Premier Division

The big game on Saturday was the meeting of league leaders Shrewton United and one of their two challengers for the league title, Swindon Supermarine Development. When the two sides had met earlier in the season, a storming second half performance had seen Shrewton come back from 2-0 down at the break to win 4-2 and another close game was anticipated. With Shrewton ten points clear of their opponents having played one game more, the home side Swindon Supermarine Development knew they really needed to defeat the leaders if they were to bridge that gap in the closing stages of the season. The two sides served up what turned out to be a feisty contest with no quarter given in a battle of two very contrasting styles. With leading marksman Kian Tydeman still out injured, and Sanjay Samuda not available, Shrewton have signed Josh Moore who two seasons ago had been one of the standout players for Amesbury Town when they had lifted the Premier Division title, Moore scoring 38 goals in all competitions for Amesbury in that title success. Also in that same title winning Amesbury side was Jack Vallis who has played for Shrewton in the past, and returned to the club last week for their win at Purton Kingsdown. Whilst Swindon Supermarine Development are a passing side who look to build up from the back, on Saturday Shrewton used a much more direct approach utilising the power and aerial ability of both Vallis and Moore, looking to put the Supermarine goal under sustained pressure from corners and free-kicks.  To their credit the young Swindon Supermarine defence led by captain Regan Lach dealt well with the aerial threat of their opponents, whilst Vallis often still won the headers in the box he was invariably tightly marked by one of the Supermarine defensive line and unable to get the power and direction on his headers that have seen him score many times over the years from set plays. The opening exchanges were very evenly matched but there was to be a pivotal moment on 25 minutes when a player from each side whole-heartedly competed for a 50:50 challenge but unfortunately for Shrewton’s Jake Hardy he slipped and mistimed his tackle and caught the Supermarine player. With the partizan local crowd calling for a red card the referee duly obliged meaning Shrewton would have to play the remaining 65 minutes one man short. It got worse for the visitors six minutes later when an attempted tackle that probably didn’t need to be made just inside the 18-yard box saw the home side awarded a penalty. Lach took responsibility for the spot kick the Supermarine captain sending Shrewton keeper Cameron Miller the wrong way to make it 1-0 to Swindon Supermarine. At the other end Shrewton then had two penalty shouts of their own when Charlie Utterson went down in the box, but on both occasions the strong appeals were waved away by the referee and the two teams turned around with Swindon Supermarine holding that slender lead.

More action from the 2-2 draw between Swindon Supermarine Dev & Shrewton Utd

The start of the second half was to see more penalty related drama as two minutes into the half Utterson once again went down in the box and this time the penalty was awarded to Shrewton. Tom Plank took responsibility for the spot kick and fired home for his sixth goal in three games to level matters up at 1-1. Despite having a one-man advantage for much of the half Swindon Supermarine didn’t really put the visitors under much pressure, seemingly content to keep possession and patiently build up from the back to create their goalscoring opportunities, and they rarely troubled Miller in the Shrewton goalkeeper. Meanwhile, at the other end, with Shrewton having that one-man disadvantage, they mainly looking to catch Supermarine on the break and generate set piece opportunities, as Supermarine keeper Rhys Simpkins and his defence continued to mainly have to deal with a series of dangerous set-pieces into the box. However, with the defensive back line continuing to do well to frustrate the aerial threat from the visitors it remained 1-1 as the game moved into its closing stages. Finally, Swindon Supermarine were to make the breakthrough though seven minutes from time and ironically it came from a set-piece. A free kick wide on the left-hand side was played to the far post by Tom Pitt and headed back across goal by Tom Lane with the ball falling nicely to captain Lach who hit the ball first time powerfully into the back of the net for his second of the game to make it 2-1. Shrewton now threw caution to the wind as they tried to get back on level terms but as the game moved into injury time it remained 2-1 to the home side. Winning a throw-in on the left, level with the 18-yard box, Shrewton had what looked like their last chance to get something out of the game. Eddie Perrett launched a long throw into the box which was flicked on and for once Josh Moore had escaped the shackles of his defensive marker to send a looping header over Simpkins to level matters up at 2-2. What followed was unsavoury. A poor reaction to conceding so late on saw a melee develop as Shrewton celebrated the goal. The upshot of it all was that both sides saw a player sent off, with another of the Shrewton players who had been substituted also seeing red for coming onto the field of play. When the game finally restarted the referee blew the final whistle moments later as it finished 2-2 with the points shared meaning Shrewton remained ten points clear of Swindon Supermarine with Supermarine having just the one game in hand with seven games to play. More pictures from this game can be found on the League Facebook Group Page.

Second placed Larkhall Athletic Development made the journey along the M4 to play Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development who started the day in fifth spot. It started well for the home side as Larkhall keeper Kit Bond misjudged a Matt Capel shot to give Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development an early lead. Larkhall came back strongly creating a string of chances in the next half hour. Matty Morris on three occasions beat the offside trap but each time he was thwarted by the Royal Wootton Bassett keeper Adam House with some outstanding saves to maintain his sides slender lead.  Next up it was James Horrocks to be denied by the home keeper as he beat the last man only to see his effort on goal denied by another outstanding save from House. It wasn’t all one-way traffic though as Royal Wootton Bassett went close to doubling their lead with an effort that hit the post. The two sides would turn around at the break level though, James Payton bundling home a James Okell corner to make it 1-1 and all to play for in the second half. The second half saw Larkhall have a blistering opening 15 minutes to effectively win the game. First Arlo Stone chipped House two minutes after the restart to put Larkhall 2-1 up. Three minutes later it was 3-1, Morris again getting behind the defence but this time squaring for Okell to tap into the empty net. The game was effectively over as a contest on the hour mark, a flick on from Horrocks put Okell through and he dinked House for 4-1. That was to be the end of the afternoon’s scoring as Larkhall registered three valuable points to close the gap to the league leaders to eight points.

It has been a good week for Trowbridge Town. On Wednesday night they entertained Wroughton under the floodlights at Woodmarsh in front of a sizeable crowd. It didn’t start too well though as Wroughton went ahead with just five minutes on the clock, Jonathan Peachey-Score lobbing goalkeeper Jordan Gullis from the edge of the box after he came rushing out to clear, the ball finding the back of the net despite a valiant effort from Dan Jordan to hook the ball away. New signing Rhys Talmash then headed Trowbridge back level just before the half hour mark with a debut goal to make it 1-1 and it remained all square at the break. Trowbridge had much the better of things in the second half but just as though it looked like they would not make the breakthrough and have to settle for a point there was to be late drama. In the final minute of the match captain Owen Pearce crossed the ball into the box which found Talmash who fired the ball back across goal into the bottom far corner of the net to put Trowbridge 2-1 up with what proved to be the winning goal. Alwyn Bodman was at the game with his camera and more of his pictures from the game can be found on the League Facebook Group Page.

Action from Trowbridge Town's 2-1 win over Wroughton

(pictures courtesy of Alwyn Bodman)

Trowbridge followed that midweek home win with another home fixture on Saturday when in-form Shrivenham  were the visitors. This time it was Trowbridge Town  who drew first blood, George Bendle firing them ahead from the penalty spot after Talmash was brought down in the box. Shrivenham were back on level terms on 17 minutes though, and once again the goal came from the penalty spot, Zac Skinner smashing his penalty down the middle of the goal to level matters up at 1-1. Shrivenham then went in front for the first time in the game just after the half hour mark, Nathan Marland hitting a free kick past Gullis in the Trowbridge goal. Six minutes later it got even better for Shrivenham, after George Bendle had seen an effort for Trowbridge cleared off the line, Shrivenham went straight down the other end and extended their lead thanks to a Jack Rockett goal. There was still time for one more goal before the break in an entertaining first half, Lenny Gale getting on the end of a Bendle cross to pull one back for Trowbridge, as Shrivenham went into the half time break with a slender one goal advantage. They were to retain that slender lead until ten minutes from time when a corner from Owen Pearce fell at the feet of Corin Day and he stabbed in from close range to level matters up at 3-3. Having netted that late winner in midweek Talmash went close to repeating that feat against Shrivenham, but on this occasion his free kick from 20-yards out in the final minute went just wide, as his side had to settle for a point against the fourth placed side. With the two sides below Shrivenham both losing the point consolidated their fourth-place spot whilst Trowbridge remain in ninth position.

After two cup defeats and a league loss in their previous three games, Pewsey Vale  returned to winning ways with a comfortable 3-0 home win over struggling Park United. Two more goals for Josh Fowler saw him take his tally for the season to 26 with Cameron Sanchez getting the other Pewsey goal. With all of the three sides above them in the table losing, Pewsey are now just four points off fifth spot with four games in hand over Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development.

Letcombe were looking to move back into the top five when they entertained Down Ampney but their relegation threatened opponents put in one of their best performances of the season to inflict a surprise 3-1 defeat on the home side, avenging the 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Letcombe they had suffered back in September. Recent signing Jake Collis made it three goals in three games by bagging a brace for Down Ampney, substitute Jack Hulbert with the other Down Ampney goal, James Webster with the goal for Letcombe to level matters up at 1-1 before two further Down Ampney goals secured those three vital points for Down Ampney in their quest to avoid the drop. The win for Down Ampney saw them move out of the relegation zone whilst Letcombe remain in sixth spot.

There was a shock result at Tucker Park where Faringdon Town  produced their best performance of the season to inflict a heavy defeat on a Melksham Town Reserves side who had come into the game on a good run that had seen them unbeaten in their previous four games. Star of the show was Aiden Miller who was only playing his third game for Faringdon following his transfer from Purton Kingsdown. Faringdon were quick out of the blocks, Daniel Loyden putting them 1-0 up with just 15 seconds on the clock, Miller flicking on goalkeeper Jack Gibson’s clearance to Loyden who fired home from the edge of the box. Three minutes later it got even better as Miller fired in from 20 yards out to double the home side’s lead. A shell-shocked Melksham rallied and sought to get back into the game, forcing Gibson into making a save on 20 minutes before finally pulling one back ten minutes before the break, Ollie Farrell with the goal after Faringdon failed to clear their lines. However, two late goals just before half-time for the home side saw them go into the break with a commanding 4-1 lead. The third goal came three minutes before the break, Miller getting on the end of a Daniel Hoskin cross to head his side 3-1 ahead before Mitchell Coombes added a fourth on the stroke of half time. There was to be no respite for Melksham in the second half, Faringdon extended their lead just before the hour mark, Miller firing home from 25 yards with a powerful strike to complete his hat-trick and put Faringdon 5-1 up. Two further goals for Miller quickly followed to take his personal tally for the game to five and give his side a 7-1 lead. When Andrew Goodchild got on the end of a Matthew Pill free kick to register an eighth for Faringdon with 15 minutes still to play, Melksham must have worried that they could be on the wrong end of a double figure score. However, they managed to prevent any further damage in those final 15 minutes and scored a second of their own, again through Farrell, but this was nothing more than a consolation goal on a bad afternoon at the office for Justin Flowers side. Despite the defeat Melksham remain in seventh place whilst Faringdon climbed a couple of places to tenth spot.

Calne Town Reserves continued their recent improvement in results as they returned from Devizes Town Reserves with a point following a 1-1 draw at Nursteed Road, that is now three games unbeaten in all competitions for the young Calne Town side. Alex Greenhouff who had scored the goal in their Fountain Trophies Cup win over Shrivenham was once again on target for Calne, with Jordan Anning getting his ninth goal of the season in reply for the home side Devizes. Calne Town Reserves are now nine points behind Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves with two games in hand and will be looking to maintain that unbeaten run when they take on another struggling side, Park United next Saturday. David Giles was at the game with his camera and more of his pictures from the game can be accessed from the League Facebook Group Page.

Action from Devizes Town Res 1-1 draw with Calne Town Reserves

(pictures courtesy of David Giles)

Wroughton bounced back from that midweek defeat at Trowbridge with a narrow 1-0 away win over Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves to move to within a point of both Down Ampney and Park United who sit just outside the relegation zone. Their game was a tight affair throughout, which could have gone either way, with the winner coming ten minutes from time. Jamie Pidgeon with the all-important goal to give Wroughton three vital points in their bid to avoid the drop. Wroughton have games in hand over all the other sides at the bottom of the table but have some tough games to come with all of the top four still to play. The defeat for Bemerton saw them replace Down Ampney in the relegation zone.

Division One

The title race in Division One took an unexpected turn when league leaders Fairford Town Reserves  fell to a surprise 3-2 defeat away at Shrivenham Development. With several players missing from their first team squad, Shrivenham had called up a number of players from their development team for their trip to Trowbridge in the Premier Division. Despite being without several of their regular players Shrivenham Dev produced their best result of the season in lowering the colours of the league leaders. Goals from Cody Frost, Ashley Andrews and Joe Kemp secured the win for Shrivenham, Israel Onibudo and Daren Regis with the Fairford goals. Despite the defeat Fairford remain ten points clear at the top with just two games to play, but with one of those games being against Malmesbury Vics Development they could still be overtaken by either Malmesbury Vics Development or Bradford Town Reserves were they to win all of their six games in hand over the leaders.

The top match of the day in the Division was the game at Trowbridge Road between Bradford Town Reserves and Marlborough Town, another of the sides in the promotion battle. It was to prove to be a close game between the two sides. Marlborough led 1-0 at the break thanks to a Jake Farrell goal but the home side turned things around in the second half. Harry Ledbury brought them back level from the penalty spot before Josh Hampton scored what proved to be the winner as Bradford Town kept their title chances alive. With eight games to go Bradford Town Reserves trail the leaders by 17 points and will probably need to win all eight of their final games if they are to pip Fairford for the title, including the return trip to play Marlborough and a game against another of the promotion challengers Bishops Cannings. As well as the title race the battle for promotion is certainly going to get very interesting in the closing weeks with four teams in with shout although Marlborough need to quickly return to winning ways after three straight defeats in the league against promotion rivals.

In the remaining fixture played on Saturday, improving Pewsey Vale Development made in four wins in their last six games with a 5-2 victory away at Kintbury Rangers Res. Their only defeats in those six games came at the hands of league leaders Fairford Town Reserves and their win on Saturday saw them move above their beaten opponents and into tenth spot in the table. Lewis Hancox led the way bagging a brace for Pewsey with further goals from Leo Sorrenti-Browner, Dominic Terrett and Callum Jones, Charlie Allsop and Bobby Canning with the Kintbury Rangers goals.

Faringdon Town Development saw their fixture at Malmesbury Victoria Development  called off due to an unfit pitch whilst Redhouse were unable to raise a team for the visit of Bishops Cannings.  

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