Division One League Champions Fairford Town Reserves

(picture courtesy of Fairford Town)

Division One

Fairford Town Reserves went into Saturday’s home encounter with Purton Kingsdown Reserves knowing that victory in their final game of the season could see them win the Division One title if Bradford Town Reserves also failed to win in their game at home to second placed Bishops Cannings. It started well for the league leaders in difficult windy conditions, Alec Gawthropp giving them the lead with just seven minutes on the clock. In a close encounter with Purton Kingsdown, in the end, that early goal would prove to be the winner with neither side able to find the back of the net in the remaining 83 minutes despite chances at both ends. Fairford Town Reserves had done what they needed to and now it was all down to what was happening at Bradford Town.

With social media these days, no doubt the news would have filtered through to Cinder Lane that things were going the way Fairford had hoped they would, with Bishops Cannings leading 2-0 against Bradford Town Reserves at half time thanks to goals from Oliver Barnes and Caleb Hollow. Again, there would be no further goals in the second half as Bishops Cannings secured the three points in what was also their final game of the season to consolidate their second place in the table and confirm Fairford Town Reserves as champions of Division One for Season 2025-26.  Congratulations to Fairford Town Reserves manager Ryan Souter and his players on their success from all at the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League. They had led the division virtually all season and are deserved champions in their first season in the league. Bishops Cannings win at Bradford Town Reserves was also their final game of the season and they must now wait and see if either Bradford Town Reserves or Malmesbury Vics Development can pip them for runners-up spot. Both teams have five games still to play, including an encounter between themselves. To overtake Bishops Cannings, one or other will need to either win all of their games or, if they draw one of the games, massively improve their goal difference by winning all their other games by such a margin that they erode the big goal difference advantage that Bishops Cannings currently have over them.

Malmesbury Vics Development set up this scenario by winning 2-0 away at Kintbury Rangers Development with a goal in each half through Joe Liddington and Joe Tranter to secure the three points. That win saw them move above Bradford Town Reserves into fourth spot and to within a point of third placed Marlborough Town with three games in hand over the side they are set to meet on Bank Holiday Monday.

Marlborough Town warmed up for that Bank Holiday encounter with a 3-1 home win against Shrivenham Development, Kieran Maidment, Jake Farrell and Richard Downey with the Marlborough Town goals, Ruben Lewis with the Shrivenham reply from the penalty spot.

Pewsey Vale Development picked up three points with a narrow 2-1 win over Great Western with two goals on his debut from 16-year-old Kyan Macieszonek in an entertaining encounter at the Recreation Ground. The Great Western goal was scored by leading scorer Ethan Miller who notched his 21st goal of the season from the penalty spot. The win for Pewsey, their seventh of the season, saw them climb above Kintbury Rangers Reserves into tenth spot in the table. Great Western were the third side to complete all their league fixtures on Saturday and have proved to be another good addition to the division this season with their 3G pitch at New College ensuring games got played in the winter months.

Premier Division

With league leaders Shrewton United without a game the other two sides, Swindon Supermarine Development and Larkhall Athletic Development had the chance to keep the pressure on the leaders, and both sides did not disappoint their supporters.

With it being Easter and all that, Swindon Supermarine Development named a full complement of 17 players for the visit of Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development a week after failing to raise a side for the semi-final of the Fountain Trophies Cup. Ryan Alexander set them on their way to a 3-0 home win scoring with a low shot that deceived visiting keeper Adam House at his near post. Sam Sanger then doubled the lead on 23 minutes, and the teams turned around with Swindon Supermarine Dev holding a 2-0 lead. It remained that way until 13 minutes from time when leading scorer Tom Phillips added a third with his 19^th goal of the campaign to make sure of the three points to close the gap to Shrewton at the top to seven points, with Supermarine having three to play and a game in hand over Shrewton.

Ryan Alexander and Tom Phillips who were both on target for Swindon Supermarine Dev in their 3-0 win over RWBT Dev

Third placed Larkhall Athletic Development travelled to Melksham Town Reserves for what on paper appeared to be the game of the day with Melksham just below Larkhall in the table. However, what transpired was something of a one-sided affair with Melksham perhaps having thoughts more on the upcoming Fountain Trophies Cup semi-final this coming Wednesday against Calne Town Reserves. It was Melksham who started the better as players sought to get used to the gusty wind. A long ball over the top saw Tom Dowell go through and produce a fine save from Kit Bond in the Larkhall goal. Moments later Bond was called into action again as a wayward back header saw Jack Smith in the clear, but he failed to beat the Larkhall keeper. The two early chances for the home side spurred visitors Larkhall into life and on 20 minutes they went in front, Ben Wickens robbed the home keeper and tapped in for 1-0 to the visitors. Ten minutes later Wickens supplied James Okell, and he fired home from 18 yards, with a well taken low left footed drive to make it 2-0. Larkhall then extended their lead five minutes before the break, Arlo Stone’s corner hit the bar, James Horrocks follow-up header was scrambled off the line only for Angus Williamson to volley home to give Larkhall a 3-0 lead at the break.  Two minutes into the second half, the points were virtually secured for Larkhall, Stone fed Okell down the left, he held off the full back before finishing neatly.  Ten minutes later the same two players combined but this time Okell squared for Wickens to finish for 5-0. It got even better for Larkhall when Okell volleyed home for his hat-trick with Stone once again the provider with a subtle pass that put Okell in for him to hit his volley past the Melksham keeper. There was to be time for one more goal, Noah Turner who was making his first appearance of the season, getting on the end of a free kick into the box to make it 7-0 to the visitors. Melksham went close to grabbing a consolation goal right at the end, but Bond denied them with a fine save to maintain his clean sheet for the afternoon. The win kept Larkhall on the heels of Swindon Supermarine Development, one point behind the second placed side, as the two look to try and overhaul leaders Shrewton United or, failing that, secure runners-up. Justin Flowers will be hoping his young side bounce back quickly from this defeat in that cup semi-final in midweek as, despite their tough season, Calne have shown in recent weeks that they have improved in the latter stages of the season and will provide tough opponents in the cup. He will also be hoping that should they beat Calne his side will put in a much better showing when they next meet Larkhall who await the winners of the cup semi-final on Wednesday.

At the other end of the table, it was to prove to be a mixed week for Wroughton. In midweek they had secured a come from behind win at Faringdon Town to secure three massive points in their quest to avoid the drop as they moved out of the relegation zone. Faringdon had taken the lead two minutes before half time when a free kick into the box saw the Wroughton keeper come for the ball but failing to claim it, with the loose ball falling to Daniel Hoskin who fired the home side head. It remained just the one goal in it until two minutes from time when, for the second game running, Faringdon conceded two goals at the death to fall to a home defeat. On this occasion it was Jono Peachey-Score who got the two goals to break Faringdon hearts which saw them still needing points to ensure their own safety.

On Saturday Wroughton were again involved in another game where both sides were looking to avoid the drop when they visited Down Ampney. This time they were to find themselves on the wrong end of a 2-1 score line as goals from Connor Hibbs and Paddy Cripps gave Down Ampney the three points, Nick Craft with the Wroughton reply. The win for Down Ampney saw them move back above their beaten opponents and out of the relegation zone. Both teams have four games to play with Down Ampney now one point ahead of Wroughton with Down Ampney having what on paper looks to be the easier run in as Wroughton have still to play both Larkhall Athletic Development and Swindon Supermarine Development who are both involved in the race for honours.

Jono Peachey-Score whose two late goals in midweek gave Wroughton a 2-1 win over Faringdon Town

Paddy Cripps who got one of the Down Ampney goals in their 2-1 win over Wroughton that saw them move above them in the table

Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves ability to escape the potential relegation zone was ended on Saturday as they were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Faringdon Town, a result which didn’t really help either side. Whilst Bemerton will now finish in the bottom three, Faringdon Town are also now susceptible to both Down Ampney and Wroughton moving above them in the table if they fail to win their final game of the season against Park United at Tucker Park next Saturday.

After four straight defeats in all competitions Letcombe returned to winning ways with a 4-2 away victory at Purton Kingsdown to move up to sixth spot in the table. The win was secured thanks to goals from Kieran Kerby, Aaron Mudie, Liam Sadler and Oscar Griffiths, the latter taking his adjusted total for the season to 19. The two goals for Purton Kingsdown came through Liam Wilkinson and Antonio Gerrish. With five games to go Letcombe still have their eyes on a top five finish, whilst Purton Kingsdown will look to end their season on a winning note in midtable next Saturday when they visit Pewsey Vale. 

Letcombe’s climb up the table was at the expense of Pewsey Vale who fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat away at near neighbours Devizes Town Reserves, Eoin O’Grady with the only goal of the game.  The win for Devizes continued their excellent second half of the season that has seen them climb well clear of the relegation zone after a difficult start to the season on their return to the Premier Division. They will complete their season a week on Saturday when they play another local derby away at Calne Town Reserves whilst Pewsey have that game against Purton Kingsdown next Saturday before ending with three away games. David Giles was at the Devizes Town Reserves v Pewsey Vale game and more of his excellent pictures can be found on the League Facebook Group Page.

Action from Devizes Town Res 1-0 win over Pewsey Vale

(pictures courtesy of David Giles)

Shrivenham made it five games unbeaten as they won 3-1 away at Calne Town Reserves thanks to goals from Dylan Boulton, Jack Rockett and James Hirst, to move up to fifth spot in the table, Alex Greenouff with the Calne Town Reserves goal. As noted earlier Calne have that big Fountain Trophies Cup semi-final in midweek when they visit Melksham Town Reserves.

The weekend’s action had got underway on Friday night when Trowbridge Town became the first team in the division to complete their fixtures, a brilliant achievement given they had been forced to play their first 14 games away from home due to the work on their pitch and facilities at the start of the season. They were rewarded for bringing their final game against Park United forward to the Friday night at the request of their opponents by attracting a crowd of 174 to Woodmarsh. Unfortunately, things did not go their way on the pitch as Park United put in one of their best performances of the season to ease their relegation concerns as a hat-trick from Jamie Cunning and one from an Alexander Hillier shot that was deflected into the net by a Trowbridge Town defender giving Park the three points. Owen Pearce had levelled matters up for Trowbridge after Cunning had opened the scoring, with the deflected goal coming in injury time at the end of the first half. Cunning then bagged another a minute from time to make sure of the points. Trowbridge Town’s disappointing closing night was compounded when Rhys Talmash then picked up a second yellow card in the final minute to leave Trowbridge to see out injury time with ten men, with Cunning taking advantage to complete his hat-trick to give Park United a 4-1 win. The win for Park sees them now sit four points above Wroughton having played two more games and with work still to do in their final two games against Faringdon Town and Melksham Town Reserves to secure safety.

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