Melksham Town Res, pictured at the start of the season, who inflicted Shrewton's heaviest defeat of the season in midweek & then yesterday made it through to the semi finals of the Fountain Trophies Cup

Premier Division

After the latest round of fixtures, which saw all 14 games scheduled for Saturday get played, it remains as you were at the top of the Premier Division, albeit with one less game to play for each of the title contenders. In midweek league leaders Shrewton United had suffered a setback in the title race when they had fallen to their third and biggest defeat of the season away at Melksham Town Reserves. Two goals from Josh Morse and one apiece from Oliver Farrell, Aron Byfield and Sam Dowell giving Melksham a resounding 5-1 victory, Charlie Utterson scoring the Shrewton goal four minutes before the break to make the score 2-1 at half time. However, a dominant second half showing from Melksham coupled with Shrewton being reduced to ten men just before the hour mark after Ben Jenks was sent off meant Shrewton had lost for the first time in the league since they were beaten away at Park United back in November.  

Despite that defeat Shrewton United  remain in pole position after they recorded a 3-0 home win over relegation threatened Wroughton at the Recreation Ground on Saturday. It started well for the home side, Sanjay Samuda on his return to the side breaking down the right and seeing his cross into the box turned into his own net by a Wroughton defender. Despite chances at both ends it remained just the one goal in it at half time. It remained that way until ten minutes from time when Justin Bennett headed home from a corner to give Shrewton a two-goal lead. They made sure of all three points three minutes from time when manager George Plank on a rare outing grabbed a third to make the final score 3-0.  

Larkhall Athletic Development  remain on their heels after a 3-1 away win at another of the relegation threatened sides Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves. Larkhall went close to taking the lead in the opening minute of their encounter in Salisbury, Matty Morris seeing his drive well saved by the Bemerton keeper. Larkhall remained on top, Ben Riccio had one cleared off the line and James Okell also went close. The opening goal eventually came ten minutes before the break after Matty Morris was pulled down in the box and James Horrocks scored from the resulting penalty. Larkhall then went close to doubling their lead when Okell hit the post. However, right on the stroke of half time Bemerton equalised. The home side worked hard to keep a long free kick into the box alive, the ball eventually being headed home by Tom Feest for his second goal of the season. In the second half it remained all square until the hour mark when two decisive moments decided matters in the visitors favour. Firstly, an in-swinging corner deceived everyone and Tobias Little headed home to give Larkhall a 2-1 lead.  Moments later it was, 3-1, Ben Wickens got in down the right channel and squared for Okell to tap into the empty net. Kit Bond in the Larkhall goal then made a late save from a good volley but Larkhall saw out the remaining minutes without conceding to claim all three points courtesy of a 3-1 win.

Third placed Swindon Supermarine Development  were in action in midweek and maintained their own quest for honours with a hard fought 2-0 win over Park United. Park had the better of the early chances including hitting the crossbar but found themselves trailing on 25 minutes when a Tom Phillips ball into the box could only be parried by the Park United ‘keeper and fell nicely at the feet of Evan Black who fired home for 1-0 to the visitors. It remained just the one goal in it at the break. Park went close to an equaliser when a long-range effort from Jamie Cunning forced Supermarine keeper Rhys Simpkins to dive at full stretch to keep the effort out. Swindon Supermarine gave themselves breathing space when they doubled their lead 18 minutes from time, a ball over the top saw Black get in behind the Park defence and as the Park ‘keeper came out Black lobbed him from 30 yards to give Supermarine a 2-0 lead. Despite chances at both end that was to be the end of the night’s scoring as it finished 2-0 to the visitors.  

On Saturday Swindon Supermarine Development followed up that midweek win with another hard fought victory against near neighbours Faringdon Town. They again took an early lead, Rowan Doyle firing home from one of his trademark excellent freekicks, firing an unstoppable shot into the top far corner of the net from the right-hand side of the box to give Jack Gibson in the Faringdon goal no chance. They doubled their lead six minutes later when Evan Black through on goal unselfishly played the ball across to Tom Phillips who was better placed to make sure of the goal to give Swindon Supermarine a 2-0 lead. Despite trailing 2-0 at the break credit to Faringdon who came out strongly in the second half taking the game to Supermarine. They thought they had pulled one back when Kyle Bowyer had the ball in the back of the net but unfortunately an assistant’s flag saw the goal disallowed for offside. They did pull one back just after the hour mark. Daniel Loyden had gone close with a header from a free-kick but was to be more successful from a Faringdon corner shortly after. Faringdon were initially thwarted by a great save from Supermarine keeper Ben Creighton clawing away the goal bound header from the corner. However, the ball was recycled back into the six-yard box and Loyden was on hand to fire home for 2-1. Loyden then again went close to getting what would have been an equalising goal, Creighton diving at full stretch to keep the ball out and retain his sides lead. Swindon Supermarine were then given a golden chance to make sure of the three points when they were awarded a penalty six minutes from time. However, captain Regan Lach, who is normally deadly accurate from 12 yards, on this occasion saw his spot kick come back off the post. Despite the miss Supermarine saw out the closing stages without conceding a second to secure the three vital points in their quest for honours.

Two teams involved in the battle for fourth place, Shrivenham and Pewsey Vale met at the Ian Richardson Football Ground on Saturday. Pewsey Vale are one of the two draw specialists in the division, and they took their draw count into double figures for the season. James Guthrie fired Pewsey Vale into the lead on 12 minutes before then getting himself sent off later in the half. Despite the numerical disadvantage for all of the second half Pewsey did not look like they were one man short and matched the home side stride for stride and it took until the 90^th minute for Shrivenham to get back on level terms, James Hirst getting the equaliser that allowed them a share of the spoils.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development look to have blown their own chances of finishing in the top five after they fell to their third straight defeat, going down 3-0 away at Trowbridge Town. The damage was done in the opening 45 minutes as Rhys Talmash helped himself to a first half hat-trick and it could have been more against an out of sorts Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development side. The visitors improved slightly after the break, but they were unable to find a way back into the game, whilst Trowbridge were unable to add to their tally despite creating several chances. The win for Trowbridge saw them move above Devizes Town Reserves into ninth place.

Also moving up one place in the table are Purton Kingsdown after a 2-1 away win at Devizes Town Reserves thanks to two goals from Ollie While who took his total for the season into double figures with the two goals, Kieron Gleed with the Devizes Town Reserves goal. Purton Kingsdown are now level on points with their beaten opponents having played one game more.

The big game at the bottom end of the table involved Park United and Down Ampney with both teams desperate for points in their battle to avoid the drop. For the second Saturday running Alex Pring was to be the hero for Park, he got the winner last week in the 1-0 win at Calne Town Reserves and he repeated the feat on Saturday getting the only goal of the game to sink Down Ampney. The win for Park United sees them now sit six points ahead of their beaten opponents who sit just inside the potential relegation zone, although Down Ampney have three games in hand and with five of their six remaining games at home, with lots of points to be won and lost before the end of the season.

Fountain Trophies Cup

The final outstanding Fountain Trophies Cup Quarter Final ties was played on Saturday and it produced another close encounter this time between Melksham Town Reserves and Letcombe. Two goals from Tom Dowell with one in reply from James Webster for Letcombe saw Melksham Town Reserves make it through to the last four where they will be at home to near neighbours Calne Town Reserves. Melskham Town Reserves have won the cup on four previous occasions, the last time being two season's ago when they defeated Larkhall Athletic Development in the final, and with both teams avoiding each other in the semi final draw there could yet be a repeat of that final this coming season. Calne Town Reserves menwhile have won the cup once before when playing under the name Wilts Calne Town back in Season 2007-8 and will be hoping to put their difficult league season behind them by ending the season with a cup final.

Full details of this season's Fountain Trophies Cup is shown below:

Division One

Fairford Town Reserves moved closer to the Division 1 title with a narrow 2-1 home win over Malmesbury Victoria Development, who are one of two clubs who could mathematically catch the leaders. After this latest win, whilst Malmesbury could still overhaul the leaders, they would need to win all seven of their remaining games and hope that Fairford are beaten in their final game at home to Purton Kingsdown Reserves. An own goal gave Fairford a deserved lead, but Sam Parker turned one home from a long throw to level up proceedings before the break for Malmesbury, that was Parker's 12th of the season. Just as it looked like it would finish all square and the two sides having to settle for a point, Alec Gawthropp capitalised on a mistake from the Malmesbury ‘keeper to secure the vital three points for Fairford. Your Sport Swindon were at the game with their cameras and subscribers can view highlights of the game by clicking on the Your Sport Swindon logo.

The other club still in the title race are Bradford Town Reserves who moved up into fourth place in the table after an 8-0 home win over Great Western to make it six straight wins in the league since they last suffered a defeat, that defeat a 5-0 loss at the hands of leaders Fairford Town back at the end of November. Leading scorer Kieran Balchin led the way scoring four of the Bradford Town Reserves goals taking his adjusted total for the season to 17, Harry Ledbury almost matched him with a hat-trick with the other goal coming courtesy of an own goal. Bradford Town Reserves, like Malmesbury have seven still to play due to multiple postponements in the winter months, with five of those seven being at home. However, they still have fellow top five sides Bishops Cannings, Malmesbury Vics Development and Marlborough Town to play in that run in and if Fairford win their final game Bradford Town Reserves would need to win all seven games to pip Fairford to the title.

Still in second place are Bishop's Cannings, who were 3-0 winners away at Kintbury Rangers Reserves, but thanks to Fairford’s win over Malmesbury, Bishops Cannings saw their outside chance of the league title ended. They remain seven points behind Fairford with two games to play but very much remain in contention for the runners-up spot and promotion. If they can win those remaining two games, which includes that game against Bradford Town Reserves, and other results go their way, with a much superior goal difference over their rivals they could well remain in second place come the end of the season.  Oliver Barnes opened the scoring for Bishops Cannings at Kintbury on 20 minutes before Ethan Howard doubled their lead a minute before the break. A third from Tom Haugh seven minutes after the restart put Bishops Cannings into an unassailable lead and they saw out the closing stages of the game without conceding to secure win number 15 of the season.  

Redhouse climbed one place in the table to seventh place with a narrow 3-2 away win over Purton Kingsdown Reserves. Yet another goal for the division’s leading scorer Cameron Shrubb taking his adjusted total for the season to 31 with Nathan Barbato and Daniel Axford getting the other two Redhouse goals, Seth Norriss and Daniel Thomas with the goals for the home side. The win for Redhouse saw them move to within a point of their beaten opponents having played one game more.

Saturday saw the first points on the board for the new management team at Faringdon Town Development as goals from Gergo Komjati and Prince Nikoi-Appoh gave them a 2-0 away win at Pewsey Vale Development. They remain bottom of the table but recent performances, and now results have certainly improved under the new management team and, with the withdrawals earlier in the season meaning no side will be relegated, this bodes well for next season.

Also picking up three welcome points were Stratton, who won 4-1 at home to Shrivenham Development  to end a run of eight games without a win, their last victory before Saturday being back on November 22nd. Two goals from Ramon Faruq saw him take his total for the season to seven with further goals from Tom Oram and Harry Yeates completing the scoring for Stratton, Kai Richardson with the Shrivenham Development reply.

Registration Deadline

Clubs are reminded that the registration and transfer deadline is 31st March 2026. Registrations that are on the player portal by 31st March will be processed, but any registrations received after that date will be rejected.