Premier Division

With league leaders Shrewton United without a game this weekend, focus switched to the two sides immediately below them in the table who are battling out for promotion to Step 6 with Shrewton, we understand, having failed the ground grading requirements for promotion. Larkhall Athletic Development also had the chance to line up what would be a title decider next week if they could beat Pewsey Vale, something they had not managed to do in 90 minutes in the two previous meetings this season, drawing 1-1 in the league at Pewsey and then 2-2 in the cup on Pewsey’s last visit to the Plain Ham, although Larkhall did eventually win the penalty shootout on their way to another cup final. Saturday’s encounter would finally see Larkhall get the better of Pewsey over 90 minutes. As in recent games Larkhall started the game brightly and went close early on through Arlo Stone who was put in one-on-one with the keeper but saw his chipped effort go wide of the post. The Pewsey keeper then made a fine save to deny James Okell. Larkhall continued to pressurise the Pewsey goal and Angus Williamson shot over when well-placed before Ben Riccio then saw his effort on goal smothered when it looked like he might score. The opening goal finally came on the half hour mark when a Stone corner was headed home by James Horrocks. Larkhall continued to be in the ascendency for the remainder of the half but there was just the one goal in it at half time. Pewsey came much more into the game after the restart as they went in search of an equaliser. However, Larkhall gave themselves a two-goal cushion on 55 minutes, Ben Wickens crossing for Horrocks to grab his second of the game to make it 2-0. The remainder of the game was largely contained to midfield as Larkhall were content to see out the game and secure three vital points in their quest for honours. The win sets up a mouth-watering title decider next week away to Shrewton United where Larkhall know they will need to defeat the league leaders to not only win the title but also guarantee promotion to Step 6 next season.

There were two games in midweek in the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League including an important game at the bottom end of the table between Wroughton and Calne Town Reserves. It would prove to be a close game decided by a solitary goal from Wroughton’s Finlei Ponting to give his side three vital points in their battle to avoid the drop. The win for Wroughton saw them move to within a point of both Down Ampney and Park United the two sides immediately above them in the table.

The other league game in midweek saw Letcombe avenge their Fountain Trophies Cup defeat last month at the hands of Melksham Town Reserves on their return to the Oakfields Stadium. Goals from Owen Shaw and Oscar Griffiths secured a 2-1 win for Letcombe which saw them move above Pewsey Vale into sixth spot and within five points of their beaten opponents with a game in hand. Tom Dowell with the Melksham Town Reserves goal.

Saturday saw both Wroughton and Letcombe looking to build on their midweek victories when they met at Bassett Road. An early goal from Jordan Davies, taking his adjusted total for the season into double figures, put Letcombe ahead. James Webster then doubled the home sides lead before Nick Craft pulled one back for Wroughton to give them hope of salvaging something from the game. Those hopes were dashed when Oscar Griffiths scored a third for Letcombe to make sure of the three points courtesy of a 3-1 win to complete a good week for his side. The two wins for Letcombe see them now just two points behind fifth placed Melksham Town Reserves as they look to secure a top five finish for the second consecutive season since joining the league. For Wroughton the defeat means they stay just below the guaranteed safety line with one game to go a tough looking fixture at home to Swindon Supermarine next Saturday with their opponents still chasing runners-up and potential promotion to Step 6.

The other game impacting the battle to avoid the drop on Saturday saw Down Ampney entertain Shrivenham at Broadleaze. The two sides turned around at the break with the game still awaiting the first goal. The deadlock was finally broken midway through the second half, Kieran Sutton who has been in a rich vein of form of late, firing visitors Shrivenham ahead with what would prove to be the only goal of the game. The win for Shrivenham in their final game of the season sees them sit in fourth place in the table with only Melksham Town Reserves now able to catch them. Melksham would need to win both their two final games against Park United and Down Ampney and also improve their goal difference by seven goals in the process to displace Shrivenham. The defeat for Down Ampney sees them still susceptible to falling below the guaranteed safety line, for now they remain one point above Wroughton with two games to play, that fixture with Melksham and another tough looking fixture against Pewsey Vale with both games at Down Ampney.

Devizes Town Reserves continued their excellent second half to the season with a 5-2 away win over bottom side Calne Town Reserves to end their season on a winning note. The two sides turned around at the break all square at 2-2 but three unanswered second half goals for Devizes saw them return home with all three points. Fin Palmer led the way for Devizes scoring a hat-trick with Harrison Sartin getting their other two goals, Darcy Garner and Ryan Flynn on target for Calne Town. The win for Devizes saw them move above Trowbridge Town to secure a mid-table finish in their first season back in the Premier Division, the best performance of any of last season's three promoted sides.

Division One

In midweek Malmesbury Vics Development had kept alive their chances of finishing in third spot with a convincing 5-0 home win over Stratton. It was a good evening for Sam Parker who scored four of the Malmesbury goals to take his total for the season to 19, the other Malmesbury goal scorer was substitute Josh Hughes. The win saw Malmesbury climb above Bradford Town Reserves into that third place in the table ahead of their final game of the season on Saturday against Purton Kingsdown Reserves.

Unfortunately for Malmesbury they were unable to repeat that victory in their final game at home against Purton Kingsdown Reserves on Saturday, the two sides sharing the points following a 1-1 draw, Finn Broadbank scoring for the visitors and Robin Collier with the Malmesbury goal from the penalty spot.

Bradford Town Reserves went into their game on Saturday away to Pewsey Vale Development knowing they still had a mathematical but very unlikely chance of displacing second in the table Bishops Cannings due to their inferior goal difference. If they could win their two remaining games and score a hatful of goals, they could overhaul Bishops Cannings to take second place. They did get the win on Saturday, but it was to be by the narrowest of margins, a solitary strike from Kye Teague giving them the three points in a 1-0 win. With Malmesbury dropping those two points against Purton Kingsdown Reserves it meant that the win saw Bradford Town Reserves move back above Malmesbury in the table to seal promotion to the Premier Division. Whilst they still have a mathematical chance of overhauling Bishops Cannings they would need to win their final game by a 24-goal margin, which is somewhat unrealistic.

The other game on Saturday saw Shrivenham Development maintain their chance of a top six finish with a 2-0 home win over Faringdon Town Development thanks to goals from Ruben Lewis and Josh Seller. Shrivenham currently sit in eighth place with one more game to play, which is next Saturday at home to Redhouse. If they win that game, they would move above Redhouse and also Purton Kingsdown Reserves to claim that sixth place.

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