The following is the known list of pre-season results.

The Under 18 Division commenced this week but was restricted to just two fixtures due to County Cup matches impacting Bishops Cannings and Kintbury Rangers, neither of which took place in the end, and the withdrawal of Pewsey Vale from the division due to a lack of players.

The two games that did go ahead saw plenty of goals. Both matches involved established sides in the Under 18 Division up against newcomers to the league this season and it was the two established sides who game out on top. Radstock Town are now in their fourth season in the division and after achieving a couple of fourth place finishes will be looking to challenge for honours this season. They had exited the FA Youth Cup the week before losing 3-0 to Weston-super-Mare in the Preliminary Round but were keen to get their league season off to a winning start.  A storming first half performance on Thursday in front of a three-figure crowd saw them score four first half goals and register a 4-1 home win over new side Bradford Town. Theo King set them on their way with the opener 18 minutes in and Bartek Grzywa extended the lead just before the half hour mark. Substitute Lex Southall made it 4-0 on 35 minutes and then last season’s leading scorer Lewis Wheeler added a fourth two minutes before half time to make it 4-0. Bradford Town then scored what proved to be a consolation goal to make the final score 4-1 to Radstock.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town and new side Kingsdown Lions served up an entertaining game at the Sustain Stadium which saw eight goals scored.  It was the visitors Kingsdown Lions who went in front early on through Ben Payne, but Jacob Rendell-Haines restored parity before Jowan Partridge put his side ahead for the first time scoring from a free kick to make it 2-1 at half time. Kingsdown got themselves back on level terms early in the second half through Tommy Hellewell but it then very much became the Jacob Rendell-Haines show as the Royal Wootton Bassett Town forward smashed a second half-trick to take his tally in the game to four and give his side a 5-2 lead. There was still time for a consolation goal for Kingsdown, Tommy Hellewell with his second of the game as it finished 5-3 to the home side.

The other two sides from the division who had entered the FA Youth Cup also both went out at the Preliminary Round stage at the beginning of the month, both suffering heavy defeats. AFC Aldermaston were beaten 6-0 at home by Wokingham & Emmbrook whilst Warminster Town lost 8-0 away to Slimbridge.

Wiltshire FA County Youth Cup

The Wiltshire FA have made the draw for the First Round of the County Youth Cup with the seven Wiltshire based sides from the ten teams in the Under 18 Division this season all included in the draw. However, as in previous seasons the FA have included all teams in the cup that play at Under 18 level in the various youth leagues, not taking into account that it is the same players who are playing in midweek in the Floodlit League as are playing for teams on a Sunday. As a result, based on the Wiltshire FA website, it looks like both Melksham Town and Calne Town have conceded the fixtures that involved their Floodlit sides. In total eight ties in the First Round have been awarded already and looking at the list of teams who have given byes in the First Round it looks like there will also need to be some byes in Round 2. The old way of doing things, where just one team from each affiliated club represented that club in the competition and did so by applying to enter was so much better. Reverting back to that approach would reduce or remove the problem of so many awarded ties. The full draw for the First Round and the leagues which the various teams are playing in is shown below:

Nine of the ten teams in the Under 18 Division were in action in the second week of fixtures in the Under 18 Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League.

The round of fixtures kicked off on Monday night with the game at Kintbury Recreation Ground where Melksham Town were Kintbury Rangers visitors for their first ever game at Under 18 level in the league. It was a close contest between the two sides with Kintbury edging it by the odd goal in three despite being reduced to ten men. On target for the home side Kintbury were Jake Cooper and Alan Hewitt, Harry Messenger with the Melksham goal.

Thursday night saw three games played with the game of the night being at Trowbridge Road, Bradford-on-Avon where the home side Bradford Town and visitors Kingsdown Lions shared six goals and the points. Both sides had lost ther opening games and no doubt both would have been happy with the point to get their season up and running. Iwan Legg scored twice for Bradford Town, Luke Masero with their other goal whilst Josh Atwell, Ethan Lee and Tommy Hellewell replied for Kingsdown, the latter scoring for the second consecutive week.

Last season’s runners-up Royal Wootton Bassett Town had seen their title hopes ended on their last visit to Bremhill View last season and must have been concerned that Calne Town would once again get the better of them as they trailed 1-0 at the break to an Asher Jones goal, with the home side very much on top in the first half. It was a different story after the break as the visitors went in search of an equaliser and were eventually rewarded when Euan Spackman brought them back level. That was to be the end of the night’s scoring as the two sides had to settle for a point and the second drawn game of the night in the division. The point for Royal Wootton Bassett Town was enough to see them go top of the early table.

It was tight game down in Warminster where the home side Warminster Town were playing their first game of the season against last season’s cup finalists AFC Aldermaston who had secured some excellent results at the back end of last season. The two sides turned round at half time with the game still without a goal but the deadlock was finally broken just before the hour mark, Zach Hayton putting visitors Aldermaston ahead. It remained that way until four minutes from time when an own goal doubled Aldermaston’s lead and then a further goal in the final minute of the game from Christian Mubaira made sure of the points for Aldermaston courtesy of a 3-0 win.

Bishops Cannings scheduled league game with Radstock Town was postponed due to Bishops Cannings needing to play their Wiltshire FA Youth Cup First Round tie against Durrington postponed from the previous week. With much of last season’s Devizes Town squad who secured the Under 18 Floodlight Division league and cup double in their ranks, Bishops Cannings enjoyed a comfortable passage into the next round of the County Cup at Green Lane on the 3G as they hit 11 unanswered goals. There were hat-tricks for last season’s two joint top scorers at Devizes, Jack Smith and Caleb Hollow, with further goals from Jack Farion, Danny Bowyer, Harrison Sartin, Harvey Swain and Tyler Moore.

There were just three games in the Under 18 Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League this week.

The top game of the night was at the Gerard Buxton Ground where two unbeaten sides, Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Kintbury Rangers met each other with early leadership of the division at stake. It was a cagey opening 25 minutes with few clear-cut chances but with Kintbury having the greater share of the possession playing some neat passing football. However, they fell behind on 26 minutes when a quick break from the home side saw Joey Warren fire a shot from the edge of the box that came back off the bar and leading scorer Jacob Rendell-Haines headed in from the rebound for 1-0. Kintbury continued to have the better of the possession but found themselves 2-0 down on the half-hour mark. Another quick transition from defence into attack saw the ball find the lively Charlie Stammers on the right flank and his low powerful cross into the box was deflected into his own net by a Kintbury defender. Five minutes later the home side had the ball in the net once again but this time it was correctly disallowed by referee Rhiannon Stevens for offside with the goalkeeper not between the goal and the attacker when the ball was played into him. Kintbury finally started to create chances from their domination of possession and went close with a powerful shot which was turned away for a corner by keeper Jack Rae. The resulting corner was then almost put into his own net by a Royal Wootton Bassett Town defender, with an attempted clearance hitting the post and then being cleared to safety for a lucky escape for the home side. With a minute to go to half-time the home side were awarded a free kick 25-yards out. Joey Warren fired the ball into the box and Jacob Rendell-Haines reacted quickest to the loose ball and tucked away his second of the game to make it 3-0 at the break, somewhat harsh on the visitors who had been playing some neat football but without the end product that the home side had demonstrated so well on the break.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town & Kintbury Rangers U18s ahead of their game

Kintbury came out for the second half in determined fashion and were rewarded two minutes after the restart when Jowan Partridge in the home defence failed to deal with a ball into the box and Joseph Sheridan pounced to pull one back for the visitors. Kintbury continued to try and get themselves back in the game and went close to reducing the arrears 15 minutes from time when a free-kick went just wide of the angle of post and crossbar. The home defence restricted any further chances for the visitors and safely saw out the remaining minutes to claim all three points and early leadership of the division. Kintbury are back in action on Monday when they host Calne Town, whilst Royal Wootton Bassett Town take on Melksham Town next Thursday.

More action from Royal Wootton Bassett Town's 3-1 win over Kintbury Rangers

Another of the unbeaten sides, Radstock Town, were home to one of the new sides to the division this season, Warminster Town. Warminster had opened with a 3-0 home defeat against AFC Aldermaston and in their first away game of the season found themselves one down within a minute of the start of the match, Shaniel Mwaura putting Radstock ahead. Two quick fire goals around the 20-minute mark from Bartek Grzywa and Lewis Wheeler put Radstock 3-0 up and in the driving seat and it remained that way at the break. Warminster had a much better start to the second half than they had in the first and, whilst the first 25 minutes of the second period saw no further goals being conceded, Warminster were also unable to find a goal at the other end to get a foothold back in the game. The game was effectively put beyond them 20 minutes from time when Leo Miller added a fourth goal. Lex Southall extended the lead further ten minutes from time and two further goals in injury time from Thomas Hobbs and Theo King rounded off a resounding win for the home side. Seven different scorers for Radstock on a night that saw them move second in the table one point behind the leaders but with a game in hand. Radstock are back in action this coming Monday when they travel to another side with a 100% winning start to the season AFC Aldermaston and it will be interesting to see whether which one or both remain unbeaten after Monday’s encounter. Warminster will be looking to pick up their first points of the season when they travel to Bradford Town, another of the new clubs who are also yet to win this season.

Bradford Town were in action on Thursday night when they travelled to the Oakfield Stadium to play a Melksham Town side who were looking to bounce back from their opening day defeat to Kintbury Rangers. Bradford Town had picked up their first point of the season last week in a high scoring draw with Kingsdown Lions but found Melksham Town in top form, especially striker Rueben Rule. Rule hit a first half hat-trick to give the home side a 3-0 half-time lead. That lead was extended within four minutes of the restart, Owen Allison getting on the score sheet. 15-year-old substitute Charlie Walder then added a fifth before Luke Masero scored a late consolation goal for Bradford Town, scoring for the second week running for his side. Bradford Town go in search of their first win with that home game against Warminster Town whilst Melksham have that home game with the leaders Royal Wootton Bassett Town.

Wilts FA County Youth Cup

The Wiltshire FA have made the draw for the Second Round of their Youth Cup which is scheduled for Sunday 2nd October 2022 and all the remaining Floodlit League sides have been given a home draw. Bishops Cannings, after their 11-0 demolition of Durrington in the last round will be home to Downton Youth U17. Bradford Town will be home to Heytesbury, whilst Royal Wootton Bassett Town will host Clarendon Juniors.The final tie involving our sides sees Warminster Town at home to Downton Youth U18 who knocked out the holders Swindon Supermarine in the last round. Details of the results in the First Round and the full Second Round draw is shown below:

This week’s action in the Under 18 Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League stretched over five days with two games on Monday, two on Thursday and a final game on Friday.

The two matches on Monday were both in Berkshire with AFC Aldermaston entertaining Radstock Town and Kintbury Rangers Youth at home to Calne Town Reserves. At AFC Aldermaston it was Radstock Town who maintained their 100% winning start to the new season thanks to two second half goals. All the goals on the night came in the second half, Lex Southall putting the visitors Radstock ahead on 52 minutes. Jayden Purnell then extended the visitors lead with just over twenty minutes to go and the visitors were able to shut up shop until the final minute of the match when Luke Schofield scored with what proved to just be a consolation goal as Radstock ensured there was no further damage to return home with all three points. The win saw Radstock Town move top of the table ahead of Thursday’s encounter between Melksham Town and Royal Wootton Bassett Town.

Radstock Town who made it 3 wins from 3 games with a 2-1 away success at AFC Aldermaston

Monday night also saw Kintbury Rangers in action looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the season last week at Royal Wootton Bassett Town. Two first half goals from James Tomlinson and Joseph Sheridan put Kintbury in the ascendancy and they led 2-0 at the break against Calne Town. However, visitors Calne pulled one back in the second half through Reuben Badman but that was to be the end of the night’s scoring as Kintbury moved third in the table thanks to a 2-1 win.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town had the chance to move back top of the table above Radstock Town on Thursday night but knew they would have to win away at Melksham Town to do so. The two sides served up a thoroughly entertaining high-quality encounter on the outside pitch at the Oakfield Stadium. It was the visitors who created the better chances in the first half. Euan Spackman went close to putting his side ahead on 23 minutes, seeing his powerful shot superbly turned away by Melksham keeper Zak Beard. Minutes later Charlie Stammers saw his cross just go over the bar as the visitors went in search of the opener. However, with half an hour gone an accidental collision between Royal Wootton Bassett Town keeper Jack Rae and defender Alan De Paula, after the defender was pushed from behind, saw the keeper lie motionless for a lengthy period with concussion. Eventually he was able to get up and leave the pitch but was unable to take any further part in the game and the visitors were forced to introduce substitute keeper Finlay Cranswick-Coates. With the half ending Melksham started to put the visitors under pressure and went in front a couple of minutes before half time. A long ball out of defence from keeper Beard was allowed to bounce on the edge of the 18-yard box with the ball falling to Tom Dowell whose initial shot was well saved with his feet by Cranswick-Coates, but the ball rebounded back to Dowell who was presented with an easy tap-in for 1-0 to Melksham.

However, Royal Wootton Bassett Town were back on level terms within a minute of the restart, Alan De Paula getting on the end of a Joey Warren free-kick into the box for 1-1. Both sides continued to play some good passing football, but it remained all square until ten minutes from time mainly due to the efforts of the two keepers Beard and Cranswick-Coates. What turned out to be the winning goal came when Charlie Stammers finished off a flowing move from the visitors, Stammers being found with an excellent defence splitting ball from Flynn Walters, and he finished in style for 2-1. The visitors continued to press forward to make certain of the points. Leading scoring Jacob Rendell-Haines was presented with a couple of excellent chances to extend the lead but on both occasions, he was denied by Beard. The first came when he was put through by Noah Cranswick-Coates but Beard pulled off a great save to deny the striker.  The second was set up by Harry Bunce but this time Beard denied Rendell-Haines by saving with his feet. Then right at the death Harvey Watkinson had a gilt-edged chance to get on the end of a cross but his connection with the ball went just wide of the post as it finished 2-1 to the visitors. The good news is that the injured keeper Rae, after being closely watched overnight, is on the mend but will be unable to take his place for the Development side this weekend.

The other game on Thursday saw two of the new sides in the division this season, Bradford Town and Warminster Town, up against each other. Warminster Town had lost both of their opening two games whilst Bradford Town had one point from their opening three fixtures, that coming from a high scoring draw with Kingsdown Lions. On Thursday night both teams were to end the night with a point each following a 1-1 draw, Lennon Burden with the Warminster Town goal. Next up for Warminster is a visit from league leaders Royal Wootton Bassett Town, whilst Bradford Town host AFC Aldermaston.

The final game in the division was on Friday night as the fixtures in the division stretched across the whole week for the first time. It saw Bishops Cannings open their league campaign having so far just played in the Wiltshire County FA Youth Cup. Their visitors on Friday night were new side Kingsdown Lions who had picked up one point from their opening two games in that draw with Bradford Town. Bishops Cannings squad includes substantially all the players from last season’s Devizes Town side that did the league and cup double and are once again expected to be up there challenging for honours again this season. Last season Caleb Hollow and Jack Smith had scored 34 goals between them in all competitions, and it was Hollow who scored the first Bishops Cannings goal on Friday night after some good work from Harvey Swain in the build-up. However, visitors Kingsdown got themselves back on level terms through Jack Campbell-Walker. Tyler Moore restored Bishops Canning’s lead before Harvey Swain himself got on the score sheet with a powerful shot to make it 3-1 at the break. Bishops Cannings continued to press for more goals and Jack Smith, having scored a hat-trick in their recent big County Cup win, notched his first league goal of the season. Lleyton Edwards then made it 5-1 before Smith rounded off the night’s scoring with a sixth and his second of the game for Bishops Cannings from the penalty spot, his fifth goal of the campaign in just two games. Next up for Bishops Cannings is a trip to Melksham Town next Thursday whilst Kingsdown Lions play their first home game on the season on Tuesday night when Kintbury Rangers Youth are the visitors. The other game next week sees Radstock Town travel to Calne Town looking to defend their 100% winning start to the season.

The Under 18 Floodlit Division is once again shaping up to be a very competitive division with this week’s series of results again highlighting that each team is capable of getting a result against any of the sides.

The action got under way on Tuesday night when Kingsdown Lions entertained Kintbury Rangers Youth. Kingsdown Lions were still looking for their first win of the season whilst Kintbury had lost just the one game from their opening three fixtures. This game went to form, leading 2-0 at the break Kintbury added a third to make sure of the points in the second half. On target for Kintbury were Josh Dopson, Jake Huntley and Bradley Passey.

On Thursday night it was top of the table versus bottom when Royal Wootton Bassett Town visited Warminster Town, but the first half very much went against the form book as Warminster raced into a 2-0 half time lead thanks to goals from Joe Wilkins and Cole Palmley. Royal Wootton Bassett Town upped their game in the second half scoring twice through Euan Spackman and an own goal to ensure they came away with a point and maintained their unbeaten start to the season, but the result once again highlighted the competitive nature of the division. Despite the dropped points Royal Wootton Bassett Town remained top of the table but just two points ahead of Kintbury Rangers and Radstock Town who both have a game in hand.

It was a similar story at Bremhill View where Radstock Town went into their game with Calne Town having won all three of their opening fixtures but were on the wrong end of a 3-2 score line, giving Calne Town their first win of the season. Radstock’s cause was not helped by having a player sent off. Two goals from Asher Jones and one from Jacob Sealy secured the three points for Calne, Bartek Grzywa and Tom Hobbs with the two Radstock goals.

There is now just one side left in the division with a 100% winning record and that is Bishops Cannings who were the big winners on Thursday night as they came away from the Oakfield Stadium with all three points following a 6-2 win over Melksham Town. Jack Farion set Bishops Cannings on their way scoring from the penalty spot. Jack Smith then doubled their lead before setting up Caleb Hollow for Bishops Cannings third. Smith then scored his second of the game before Melksham pulled one back to make it 4-1. Further goals from Toby Baker and Harrison Sartin put Bishops Cannings 6-1 up before a late consolation for Melksham made the final score 6-2, Thomas Gilbert and Josh Jeffrey, two 15-year-olds, both scoring their first goals for Melksham in the Under 18 Floodlit division.

The final game of the night on Thursday was at Trowbridge Road, Bradford-on-Avon where Bradford Town entertained AFC Aldermaston. In a tight contest the only goal of the game came in the final minute of the match, Iwan Legg scoring his third goal of the season to give Bradford Town their first win of the season.

There were plenty of goals in this weeks five Under 18 Floodlight Division fixtures, starting on Monday night when Kintbury Rangers Youth made the relatively short trip to play AFC Aldermaston. After losing their second game of the season, Kintbury have won every game since and were comfortable winners on Monday putting seven goals past Aldermaston. Ashley Howes scored four times, adding to the couple he scored in Kintbury’s recent Berks & Bucks Youth Cup win over Slough Town, and there were further goals for Jake Huntley, Cameron Sanchez and Joseph Sheridan. The win sent Kintbury top of the table ahead of Thursday’s round of matches.

There were plenty of goals again on Tuesday night at Kingsdown School where Calne Town picked up their second win of the season with a 5-2 away success over Kingsdown Lions. Kingsdown Lions took the lead on 20 minutes, but Calne hit back with two goals to lead 2-1 at the break. Three further goals in the second half put them 5-1 up before the Lions grabbed a late consolation goal. Leading scorer Asher Jones led the way for Calne firing a hat-trick to double his total for the season, Thomas Gates and Jacob Pritchard with the other Calne Town goals, Ethan Lee and Ben Payne with the two Kingsdown Lions goals.

Thursday night saw three more games with Royal Wootton Bassett Town looking to reclaim top spot from Kintbury with Radstock Town also looking at the chance to go joint top if Royal Wootton Bassett Town slipped up at home to Bradford Town. A storming first half performance by Royal Wootton Bassett Town ensured it would be they who claimed that top spot, goals from Max Wood, leading scorer Jacob Haines who took his tally for the season to eight, Noah Cranswick-Coates and Alan de Paula giving the home side a 4-0 half time lead. It was a different story after the break though as Bradford Town came out looking to get a foothold back in the game, Finn Pilkington pulling one back early in the half to make it 4-1. Bradford pushed for further goals but were unable to add to that one from Pilkington and Euan Spackman rounded off a good night for the home side with a fifth goal to make the final score 5-1 and a return to the top of the table. Royal Wootton Bassett Town are two points clear of Kintbury, but Kintbury have a game in hand.

In the end it was Radstock Town who slipped up at home going down 2-0 against the young Melksham Town in a disciplined performance from Steve Redell’s side. Radstock's cause was not helped by having their goalkeeper sent off for handling the ball outside his box. Second half goals from Kegan Smart and Charlie Warren ensured that it was Melksham who took all three points recording their second win of the season which saw them move up to sixth place in the table.

The final game of the evening was at Warminster Town where the home side, whilst not yet having recorded a victory, have slowly been adapting to life in the division with successive draws against Bradford Town and the leaders Royal Wootton Bassett Town. They were up against one of the title favourites Bishops Cannings who came into the game having won both their opening two league fixtures and looking to maintain the only 100% winning record in the division. It started well for Bishops Cannings as they went 1-0 up, Jack Farion getting on the end of a Tyler Moore corner. They then thought they had extended their lead when Jack Smith had the ball in the net, but the referee had already blown for a penalty for an infringement which saw the Warminster keeper booked. Jack Farion then saw his spot kick saved by the Warminster keeper and it remained 1-0. Warminster then got themselves back on level terms thanks to a powerful shot from Braden Humphreys. The same player then put the home side ahead for the first time with another stunning strike to make it 2-1 and it looked like, not only would Bishops Cannings lose their 100% record, they would also lose their unbeaten tag as well. However, an equaliser from Danny Bowyer with his second of the season ensured that Bishops Cannings retained that unbeaten tag even though the 100% record had gone. For Warminster that is now three consecutive draws and that first win of the season cannot be too far away.

There are new leaders of the Under 18 Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League at the end of this week’s games with Kintbury Rangers taking over at the top of the table following a hard-fought 3-2 home win over Bradford Town on Monday night. A couple of individual errors in defence by the visitors saw Kintbury take a 2-0 lead, but Bradford got themselves back in the game before half-time. Good build up play between Benjamin Knudson and Freddie Ellis saw Ellis square the ball to Finn Pilkington who fired in for his second goal in consecutive games for Bradford Town to make it 2-1 at the break. It remained a tight tense affair in the second half, but Kintbury restored their two goal advantage with a third goal and, despite Bradford Town pulling one back late on in the game through Liam Barnett, Kintbury held on for all three points and leadership of the division. On target for Kintbury were James Tomlinson, Leo Greenwood and a third of the season for Jake Huntley.

Bishops Cannings had dropped their first points of the season away at Warminster Town last week and were again on the road this week making the short journey to Calne Town. Calne came into the game on the back of two impressive performances which had seen them defeat both Radstock Town and Kingsdown Lions and they made it three straight wins, inflicting a first defeat of the season on Bishops Cannings. The game was decided by a solitary goal from full back Jack Fry, scored a minute before the half time break. The win lifted Calne up into third place in the table, five points behind leaders Kintbury but with a game in hand.

At the Oakfield Stadium where Melksham Town hosted AFC Aldermaston the home side picked up their third win of the season in a match that saw the two sides produce eight goals in an entertaining encounter. Melksham took the game to AFC Aldermaston right from the off and found themselves 3-0 up within the first 25 minutes, the third coming from the penalty spot. However, a defensive slip up just before half time allowed Zachary Hayton to pull one back for the visitors with his second goal of the season. That goal seemed to spark AFC Aldermaston into life, and they came out for the second half and took the game to the home side, hitting the bar before being awarded a penalty of their own, all within five minutes of the restart.  The penalty kick was duly put away by Daniel Santos-Keskin to make it 3-2. Melksham restored their two-goal cushion 20 minutes from the end but a mistimed tackle in the box on Santos-Keskin 15 minutes from time, which saw the Melksham defender dismissed, gave Aldermaston the chance to get back into the game. Dantos-Keskin, having won the penalty, duly put the spot kick away to give the visitors hope that they could still get something out of the game. Aldermaston then pushed forward in search of an equaliser, hitting the bar for a second time in the game. However, despite putting the home side under immense pressure, the game was ultimately put beyond them following a Melksham break which saw a free kick awarded on the edge of the box which was fired in to make the final score 5-3 to the home side. Reuben Rule and Kegan Smart both scored twice for the home side, with Owen Allison getting the other Melksham goal. The win saw Melksham climb above Bishops Cannings in the table.

There were also plenty of goals at Warminster where the home side Warminster Town were looking to pick up their first win of the season after drawing their previous three games, including matches against a couple of the expected title challengers, Bishops Cannings and Royal Wootton Bassett Town. Their visitors on Thursday night were Kingsdown Lions who were also looking for their first win of the season. It started well for the Lions who went in front within the first ten minutes through Zack Vaughan. Warminster got themselves back on level terms on 22 minutes thanks to a headed goal from Toby Worts. The same player then put the home side ahead for the first time in the game just after the half hour mark, following up to tap in after the Kingsdown Lions keeper had saved an initial shot. It remained 2-1 at half time. Warminster then extended their lead within three minutes of the restart, Braden Humphreys, who had scored both goals against Bishops Cannings the previous week, finishing off an excellent move from the home side. Warminster made sure of the points five minutes from the end, Spencer Dymond-Hall scoring from the penalty spot to make the final score 4-1 to Warminster and that first win of the season. The win saw Warminster move up into seventh spot in the table.

The final scheduled game between Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Radstock Town was postponed by Radstock due to school commitments.

The impact of the half-term school holidays meant that just the one Under 18 Floodlight Division fixture went ahead this week, that being the game at Calne Town where Melksham Town were the visitors. Calne went into the game on the back of an impressive run that had seen them win their previous three games, with their only defeat so far this season being a narrow 2-1 loss away at league leaders Kintbury Rangers.

In a tight first half the two sides turned round with the game still looking for its first goal but three quickfire goals in the first eight minutes of the second half saw Calne continue that excellent run of results. Jacob Pritchard opened the scoring three minutes after the restart and Joseph Redman then doubled the lead a minute later. Calne effectively put the game beyond Melksham when Pritchard scored his second of the game on 53 minutes to make it 3-0. There was to be no further goals as Calne’s defence ensured a second consecutive cleansheet. Whilst the win did not result in any change in league position for Calne it saw them move to within a point of second placed Royal Wootton Bassett Town and two points of leaders Kintbury Rangers in what is shaping up to be another very competitive Under 18 Division this season.

After failing to win in their opening two games of the season Calne Town Under 18s have done nothing but win ever since. Those opening two games were against the other two sides currently in the top three, Kintbury Rangers and Royal Wootton Bassett. An opening game draw with Royal Wootton Bassett was followed by a narrow 2-1 to Kintbury. Since that defeat Calne Town have now won five games on the spin to sit in second place in the table. Their latest success came on Thursday night against Bradford Town with Calne inflicting the main damage on their visitors in the opening forty-five minutes.  An early goal from Jacob Sealy set them on their way and Jack Fry doubled their lead with less than 20 minutes gone. Two goals in a five-minute spell around the half hour mark from Joseph Redman and Ryan Flynn put Calne 4-0 up and in command. Furthermore, if it wasn’t for the heroics of Joe Beaverstock in the Bradford Town goal there could have been even more goals in that opening half, but the teams turned round with Calne leading by those four goals to nil.  Not for the first time this season Bradford Town came out for the second half and put in a much better second half showing. Whilst Calne added a fifth through Redman with his second of the game, Bradford also registered two goals of their own. Iwan Legg fired in from distance for his fourth goal of the season and Luke Masero finished off a good move, rounding the Calne keeper for the second Bradford goal as it finished 5-2 to the home side. The win saw Calne move above Royal Wootton Bassett Town into second place, two points behind Kintbury.

Kintbury Rangers had played their game this week on Monday night and had a comfortable evening hitting eight unanswered goals against Warminster Town. It is the second heavy defeat Warminster have suffered on their travels this season, but their cause was not helped by having a player sent-off. James Tomlinson led the way for Kintbury scoring half his team’s goals, Joseph Sheridan bagged a brace, both Tomlinson and Sheridan taking their goal tally for the season to six in the process, with the other two coming through first goals of the season from Ben Luckett and Tane Newton-Clark. Like Calne that is now five straight league wins for Kintbury ahead of this weekend’s Berks & Bucks County Youth Cup game against FAB U17 Reds.

Also in action on Monday night were AFC Aldermaston and Bishops Cannings, two sides who were in need of a win after some indifferent results of late.  It was Bishops Cannings who finally returned to winning ways, two goals from Danny Bowyer and one apiece for Caleb Hollow, Harvey Swain and leading scorer Jack Smith in a 5-2 win, Thomas Henry and Daniel Santos-Keskin replaying for Aldermaston. The win saw Bishops Cannings move above both Melksham Town and Radstock Town into fourth place with games in hand over all of the top three.

On Tuesday night Kingsdown Lions finally picked up their first league win of the season with a hard fought 1-0 win over Melksham Town on the 3G at Kingsdown School. The only goal of the game came courtesy of Josh Atwell and saw Kingsdown move off the bottom of the table to be replaced by Aldermaston. Well done to Kingsdown on picking up the win which now means every side in the division has won this season and the Swindon based side will now look to build on the victory with upcoming games against Aldermaston and the team just above them in the table, Bradford Town.

The scheduled game between Radstock Town and Royal Wootton Bassett Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Bishops Cannings were back in action on Friday night playing their Third-Round tie in the Wiltshire FA Youth Cup against Melksham Town Hurricanes. A couple of early scares saw them twice trail to their opponents but equalising goals first from Jack Farion and then Jack Smith saw them pull back twice. Once they got their noses in front thanks to a second goal from Jack Farion there was only going to be one winner. Leading scorer Jack Smith got his second of the game to make it 4-2 before further goals from Caleb Hollow, Alexander Ansell and Lleyton Edwards extended Cannings lead. The night’s scoring was rounded off by Farion who scored his third of the game to complete his hat-trick and make the final score 8-2 to Bishops Cannings who safely progress through to the last eight.

Just two Under 18 games were played this week as waterlogged pitches took their toll on the fixture list. Both scheduled games in the First Round of the League Cup at Aldermaston and Warminster fell victim to the weather along with the league match at Radstock.

No such problems with the 3G pitch at Kingsdown School where Kingsdown Lions visitors were Bradford Town. When the two sides had met at Bradford Town in mid-September, they had produced an entertaining 3-3 draw and another close game was anticipated and so it proved. The two sides turned round at half time with matters level at 1-1 at, Kingsdown having taken the lead only for Bradford Town’s leading scorer Iwan Legg to net his fourth of the season to restore parity for the visitors. The visitors then scored first after the restart somewhat against the run of play to take a 2-1 lead, Luke Masero the scorer. However, two goals in a ten-minute spell from Kingsdown Lions, despite being one man down due to a sin-bin offence, saw the home side go back in front for the second time in the game. Just as it looked like Kingsdown would register their second straight win Bradford were awarded a free kick in the last minute of the match. Iwan Legg took the free kick, opting for a pass to Sam Kirby rather than a shot.  Kirby fired in a shot which was pushed onto the post by the Kingsdown keeper but unfortunately for him the ball fell to Masero for an easy tap in for his second of the game and his fifth of the season, equaling the tally of Legg as it finished 3-3 between the two sides for the second time this season.

The other game to be played this week was the top of the table clash between Calne Town and Kintbury Rangers. Both teams came into the match on the back of five straight victories, with Calne Town’s only defeat of the season being a narrow 2-1 loss against Kintbury back in September. It was visitors Kintbury who started brightly taking the lead as early as the fourth minute through Cameron Squires. They doubled their lead ten minutes later, James Tomlinson with the second Kintbury goal and his seventh of the campaign. Calne responded well to going the two goals down and got themselves back into the game when Fraser Blake found the net on 26 minutes for his first goal of the season. They then drew level a minute before half time, Woody Smart, an ever present in the Calne line up this season, also getting his first goal of the season. However, there was still time for one more goal in an action packed first half, Jake Huntley scoring for Kintbury in the very last minute to give Kintbury a slender lead at half time. The second half remained a tight affair as it stayed 3-2 until 20 minutes from time when Brad Passey scored a fourth for Kintbury to give them a two-goal cushion. They then made certain of all three points three minutes from time when Joseph Sheridan added a fifth with his seventh goal of the season to make the final score 5-2. The win for Kintbury saw them open up a five-point lead at the top of the table.

The wet weather once again took its toll on the midweek fixtures in the Under 18 Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire League with two of the five scheduled games falling victim to waterlogged pitches. Well done to Radstock Town on staging their game on grass despite the heavy rain at the beginning of the week but unfortunately for them their efforts were not rewarded with a win as they fell to a 2-0 defeat to league leaders Kintbury Rangers. Goals from Ben Luckett and a fifth goal of the season from Jake Huntley secured the points for the visitors on Thursday night, the win sending them eight points clear at the top of the table. Kintbury have now won eight of their nine fixtures and reach the half-way stage with their fixtures looking like the team the others will need to finish ahead of if they are to claim the Under 18 Division title. Kintbury’s scheduled game for next week against Bishops Cannings has been pushed back to the following Monday due to floodlight maintenance taking place this coming week giving the chasing pack the chance to narrow the gap at the top this coming Thursday. Radstock Town are scheduled to be away at Bradford Town.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town are looking the most likely challenger to Kintbury and they were involved in the top match of the week when they met Bishops Cannings at Green Lane on Friday night. Bishops Cannings are substantially made up of last season’s championship winning Devizes Town side, and it had been Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Devizes who had battled it out for the title last season and were both expected to do well again this campaign. Mainly due to County Cup games Bishops Cannings are slightly behind with their fixtures but with a 3G pitch are not going to suffer postponements when the wet weather kicks in and on Friday night they were looking to make up ground on the top three. However, things did not go to plan as two goals from Joseph Beavis put visitors Royal Wootton Bassett Town in the driving seat and although Bishops Cannings were able to pull one back through Caleb Hollow there was to be no equaliser as Royal Wootton Bassett Town secured a 2-1 win to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. They closed the gap at the top to Kintbury to seven points with two games in hand, moving above Calne Town into second spot in the table. Next up for Royal Wootton Bassett Town is a home fixture this coming Thursday against AFC Aldermaston.

The other game played this week was also on a 3G pitch at Kingsdown School. After starting the season with just one point from their opening six games things are certainly looking up for Kingsdown Lions. They went into Tuesday night’s home game against AFC Aldermaston looking to make it three games unbeaten and it was mission accomplished following a 4-1 win. Star of the show for Kingsdown was Nicholas Wilkes who scored all four goals for the Lions, Finnley Dove with the reply for AFC Aldermaston. The win saw Kingsdown climb two places in the table to seventh spot and they will look to continue that unbeaten run when they travel to Melksham Town on Thursday night. The final game scheduled for the coming week sees Calne Town travel to Warminster Town.

Just one game survived the wet weather in the Under 18 Floodlight Division this week, that game being the match at the Sustain Stadium between second in the table Royal Wootton Bassett Town and bottom side AFC Aldermaston who had won just one of their opening seven games, losing the other six. The form book would have suggested a comfortable night for the home side, but it was anything but for Nick Warren’s side in an entertaining game. Right from the start AFC Aldermaston matched the home side stride for stride and were much the better side in the opening half. They went 1-0 up just after the half hour mark when Freddie Stewart pounced on an error in the six-yard box by Royal Wootton Bassett Town’s Charlie Stammers, Stammers failing to clear the ball enabling Stewart to fire Aldermaston in front. They went close to extending their lead a minute before half-time, Oscar Kirby firing in a powerful shot which was well saved with his feet by Jack Rae in the Royal Wootton Bassett Town goal and it remained just the one goal at the break.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town upped their game in the second half and went close to getting back on level terms ten minutes into the second half when Flynn Walters saw his shot deflected onto the post and out for a corner. They eventually did get themselves back in the game on the hour mark, a misplaced shot from Rhys Westlake fell to Euan Spackman who put it away for 1-1. The home side then went in front for the first time ten minutes later, a dangerous cross from the right by Charlie Stammers to the far post saw Flynn Walters stretch to get on the end of it, which he succeeded in doing, keeping the ball in play putting it into the six-yard box, where Jacob Rendell-Haines had a simple tap in for 2-1.

They did not hold the lead for long though. Aldermaston were awarded a free kick 25-yards out in a central position and Oscar Kirby smashed the free kick into the top corner of the net to make it 2-2 with 15 minutes to go. Royal Wootton Bassett Town knew they could not really afford to drop many more points in their quest for the title and immediately sought to respond, Euan Spackman firing a shot just over the bar within a minute of Aldermaston’s goal. As the game went into its final ten minutes it looked like the sides would have to settle for a point apiece, but Royal Wootton Bassett Town’s Rhys Westlake had other ideas. With seven minutes to go the ball was fed into his feet on the edge of the Aldermaston box and he turned his defender and slotted the ball past Aldermaston’s keeper into the far bottom corner of the net for 3-2. Aldermaston once again sought to get back on level terms but in pushing players forward were caught on the counterattack just two minutes after falling behind. A ball out of defence saw Flynn Walters pick the ball up on the halfway line and run past a couple of defenders with Westlake joining him to make it two-against one as the Aldermaston keeper came out, Walters unselfishly slid the ball across to Westlake who had an open goal in front of him and put it away for 4-2 and secure all three points for the home side. Royal Wootton Bassett certainly knew they had been involved in a tough game and if Aldermaston continue to play like they did that second win of the season cannot be too far away.

Action from the game between Royal Wootton Bassett Town & AFC Aldermaston

There was a very limited programme of games in the Under 18 Division this week due to the World Cup with just the two games in the First Round of the League Cup and one League fixture at the top end of the table between Kintbury Rangers and Bishops Cannings scheduled. In the end a waterlogged pitch saw the league fixture postponed and then one of the cup fixtures, the game at Warminster Town where Royal Wootton Bassett Town were the visitors, was also postponed just before kick-off by the referee due to thick fog which had shrouded the pitch.

The one cup game that did go ahead was at AFC Aldermaston where Melksham Town were the visitors. An own goal and one from substitute Ryan Smith saw last season’s beaten finalists AFC Aldermaston safely through to Round Two where they will be home to Radstock Town.

There was further cup action involving one of the Under 18 sides on Sunday when Bishops Cannings met Malmesbury Victoria Youth from the North Wilts & District League in the quarter finals of the Wiltshire Youth Cup. The two sides could not be separated at the end of 90 minutes, sharing six goals as it ended 3-3 with penalty kicks required to settle matters. Despite Bishops Cannings having a chance to win the penalty shootout, a vital kick was missed and Malmesbury Vics prevailed in the shootout, winning 4-3 meaning the last side from the Under 18 Floodlit Division exited the prestigious County Cup competition. On target for Bishops Cannings in open play were Caleb Hollow with two and one for the Division’s leading scorer Jack Smith, his 11^th of the season. Joining Malmesbury in the semi-finals will be FC Calne Youth and AFC Corsham Warriers with the final team set to be the winner of the Devizes Town versus Kingsdown Lions tie which is set to be played next Sunday.

Kintbury Rangers scheduled tie in the Berks & Bucks Youth Cup was postponed.

Once again the weather caused a much reduced programme of games in the Under 18 Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League, with frozen pitches and illness being the cause of postponements this week. In the end just one game went ahead, a game that was not even scheduled to have been played this week but was hastily arranged with co-operation from both Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Bishops Cannings after both saw their scheduled games postponed. Bishops Cannings were scheduled to be away at Bradford Town, but weather-related pitch issues meant that game was postponed earlier in the week. An attempt was made to switch the fixture to Bishops Cannings but when that was unsuccessful another opportunity for a league fixture for Bishops Cannings was provided by Warminster Town postponing their scheduled trip to Royal Wootton Bassett Town due to illness for a game that was being played on the 3G at the Gerard Buxton Ground. Although Bishops Cannings and Royal Wootton Bassett Town had only recently played each other at Devizes, both were happy for the return fixture to be brought forward at short notice from March and, in the end, this was the only fixture played in the division.

On a bitterly cold evening the two sides served up an entertaining game between two sides expected to be contesting for honours this season. It was visitors Bishops Cannings who took the lead, Harvey Swain scoring his fourth of the season. Home side Royal Wootton Bassett Town had been forced to make a late goalkeeping switch after Jack Rae reported feeling ill just before kick-off. Replacement keeper Finlay Cranswick-Coates was certainly the busier of the two keepers in the opening half, but his efforts in an impressive performance prevented any further goals and, despite, having the better of the half Bishops Cannings found themselves trailing 2-1 at the break. Joe Beavis, who certainly enjoys playing against Bishops Cannings having scored twice in the first meeting between the sides, had pulled Royal Wootton Bassett level and then a first of the season from Flynn Walters had given the home side the lead. Second half saw the home side up their game and a second of the game from Beavis, taking his total against Bishops Cannings this season to four, gave his side a two-goal advantage. It remained tight throughout between two evenly matched sides, but Bishops Cannings were unable to create any clear-cut chances and add to their one goal tally as it finished 3-1 to Royal Wootton Bassett Town.

This was the home sides’ ninth game of the season, and they reach the halfway stage with their fixtures unbeaten, with seven wins out of nine, and are one point behind league leaders Kintbury Rangers who have played the same number of games and who they beat at the start of the season. Bishops Cannings remain in fourth spot but are now 13 points adrift of Royal Wootton Bassett Town but with two games in hand. Whilst they have lost three games, two of them have been against unbeaten Royal Wootton Bassett and one against Calne Town, the team immediately above them. Despite these defeats Bishops Cannings are still going to have a big say in the title race as many of last season’s team from Devizes look to retain the title they won last season.

The games at Calne Town, Melksham Town and Radstock Town were all postponed due to frozen pitches.

Just one of the three scheduled games in the Under 18 Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League survived the wet weather this week and so it is congratulations to the ground staff at Radstock Town for their efforts in enabling the game between Radstock and Kingsdown Lions to take place. The Radstock club were rewarded for their efforts with a big 9-1 win in the first ever meeting with Kingsdown Lions. Bartek Grzywa led the way firing in a hat-trick, captain Lewis Wheeler and Tom Hobbs both bagged a brace and there were further goals from Theo King and Jay Purnell. Nicholas Wilkes with a second half consolation goal for the Lions taking his total for the season to six. The win for Radstock saw them go fourth in the table with games in hand over all the three teams above them they are still set to have a big say in the race for honours this season. They are back in action on Monday when they travel to AFC Aldermaston in the Quarter Final of the League Cup before meeting Bishops Cannings on Friday in a league fixture as they play one of those games in hand.

The games at Calne Town and Melksham Town were both postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

Next week’s fixtures are set to be dominated by cup fixtures with the twice postponed tie between Warminster Town and Royal Wootton Bassett Town scheduled for Thursday with that Quarter Final game at AFC Aldermaston on Monday followed by another Quarter Final tie on Tuesday on the 3G at Kingsdown School where Kingsdown Lions entertain Calne Town.

With all the wet weather the advantages of 3G pitches were clearly demonstrated this week in the Under 18 Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League when the only two games that were played were on artificial pitches at Kingsdown School and Green Lane.

On Tuesday night there was action in the quarter final of the Under 18 League Cup when Kingsdown Lions entertained Calne Town. When Calne had visited Kingsdown in the league in October they had left with all three points following a 5-2 win and they completed a league and cup double on Tuesday night at Kingsdown School courtesy of a 3-1 win. The first half was a tight affair and despite chances at both ends the teams turned round with the game still looking for its first goal. The deadlock was finally broken on the hour mark, Calne’s leading scorer Asher Jones netting his seventh goal of the campaign. Calne doubled their lead six minutes later through Thomas Gates and Gates then made sure it would be Calne who progressed to the semi final with his second of the game ten minutes from time. Kingsdown did manage a late consolation goal through their leading scorer Nicholas Wilkes, who had also scored in their previous three games, with his seventh goal of the season.

Unfortunately, the First Round tie between Warminster Town and Royal Wootton Bassett Town was postponed for the third time and it will need to be re-scheduled again. Similarly the quarter final tie between last season’s beaten finalists AFC Aldermaston and Radstock Town.

The one league game to be played in the week was on Friday night at Green Lane where Bishops Cannings hosted Radstock Town. Bishops Cannings were without a win in their previous three games in all competitions and keen to get their season back on track, whilst Radstock Town came into the game on the back of a big 9-1 win over Kingsdown Lions in their last game. On a bitterly cold evening the two sides provided an entertaining game which saw both teams hit the frame of the goal on a number of occasions and both keepers deny their opponents with some good saves. It was to be Bishops Cannings night though. Harvey Swain put them one up before Jack Farion doubled their lead. It then became the Jack Smith show as the Cannings leading scorer added a third and a fourth to take his total for the season to 13. Radstock Town pulled one back before Smith went from scorer to provider setting up Lleyton Edwards for a fifth Bishops Cannings goal as it finished 5-1 to the home side. The win for Bishops Cannings saw them move up above Radstock in the table into fourth spot.

Once again in the Under 18 Floodlight Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire it was just the 3G pitches at Kingsdown School and Green Lane that saw action this week.

On a bitterly cold Tuesday night Kingsdown Lions entertained a Royal Wootton Bassett Town side who had the chance to move back top of the table with a win. When the sides had met at the Sustain Stadium at the very start of the season Royal Wootton Bassett Town had won 5-3 in an entertaining game and, despite the cold weather, the two sides conjured up another thrilling encounter. The teams turned round at the break with the game still looking for its first goal, but plenty came in the second half. Despite just two wins in their opening ten games it looked like Kingsdown would be the first team to inflict a defeat on Royal Wootton Bassett Town this season, as goals from Jack Byrne and Callum Tregunna in the first 15 minutes of the second half put them 2-0 up. It remained that way until 20 minutes from time when Joey Warren pulled one back for the visitors to give them a foothold back in the game. Royal Wootton Bassett Town eventually restored parity, but it needed a helping hand from the home side as an own goal made it 2-2. They then went ahead for the first time in the match five minutes from time, Rhys Westlake firing in to make it 3-2 to secure three vital points for his side and send them two points clear at the top of the table having played one game more than second placed Kintbury Rangers. Credit to Kingsdown Lions who had pushed the visitors all the way in a sporting contest between the two sides.

The other game to be played this week was on Friday night at Green Lane Devizes where Bishops Cannings entertained Melksham Town on another very cold evening. It was visitors Melksham who went ahead early on, a Leo Rendell strike from outside the box giving them the lead. Melksham had a number of chances to extend their lead as they took the game to Bishops Cannings but they were unable to add to that Rendell goal. Bishops Cannings stepped up their game and four unanswered goals from Jack Farion, Joseph Muir, Caleb Hollow and one from the division’s leading scorer Jack Smith, taking his total for the season to 14,  saw them run out 4-1 winners. The win for Bishops Cannings saw them move level with Calne Town in third spot but having played one game more.

Next week could be a pivotal one in the title race with leaders Royal Wootton Town hosting Calne Town and Bishops Cannings entertaining second placed Kintbury Rangers the following night, with both games involving the top four sides being played on 3G pitches. Kingsdown Lions are also at home again this week when they host Warminster Town on Tuesday night, with the final game of the week seeing Radstock Town at home to AFC Aldermaston on Thursday night.

The Under 18 Floodlight Division in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League saw three games played this week, with two of the games featuring the top four sides in the division. When the title race is finally decided the teams may look back at this week as being a vital one in the ultimate destination of the league title.

The two big games were at the backend of the week but before that there was another entertaining game involving Kingsdown Lions on Tuesday night at Kingsdown School. Last week they had pushed league leaders Royal Wootton Bassett Town all the way, leading 2-0, but in the end falling to three goals in the last 20 minutes. Once again on Tuesday night they let a two-goal lead slip, this time against Warminster Town. It was all level at half time at 1-1 but two goals after the break saw Kingsdown 3-1 up but, for the second week running, they allowed their opponents to get back into the game as Warminster Town scored two of their own to level matters up at 3-3. At least this week Kingsdown did not concede a winner and, whilst no doubt frustrated with dropping the two points, having lost 4-1 to Warminster earlier in the season will be pleased with the progress they are making this season. On target for Kingsdown were Josh Atwell, who bagged a brace and doubled his total for the season, and leading scorer Nicholas Wilkes with his eighth of the campaign. All three of Warminster Town’s goals were scored by Toby Worts who took over as Warminster’s leading scorer as a result with five goals to his name.

On Thursday night the improved weather this week came too late to save the game at Radstock Town but the game between league leaders Royal Wootton Bassett Town and third placed Calne Town was switched to the 3G at the Gerard Buxton Ground allowing that game to go ahead. The two sides had drawn 1-1 back in September at Bremhill View and the home side knew their unbeaten start to the season was set to be tested by a Calne Town side who had won five of their opening eight fixtures. It was close throughout the first half, but it was the visitors who got themselves in front from a corner two minutes from half time. Fraser Blake fired in the corner to the far post and the kick completely deceived Jack Rae in the Royal Wootton Bassett Town goal and ended up in the back of the net for 1-0 to Calne. It remained that way until deep into the second half. Last week Royal Wootton Bassett Town had scored those three times in the last 20 minutes to secure the points at Kingsdown and it was around the 70^th minute mark that they got themselves back into this game from the penalty spot after a body check on the edge of the six-yard box. Harry Bunce fired the spot kick low and into the corner of the net for 1-1. Six minutes later the home side were in front for the first time, an excellent Charlie Stammers cross from the right to the far post was headed in by leading scorer Jacob Rendell-Haines for his ninth of the season.  The home side made sure of all three points right at the end of the game, substitute Flynn Walters smashing a shot with his left foot from the edge of the 18-yard box that gave the Calne keeper no chance, going in just under the crossbar for 3-1. For the second week running the league leaders had hit three goals in the final 20 minutes to seal all three points.

The final game of the week on Friday night was another top end of the table clash with Bishops Cannings, level with Calne Town in third  place, up against second in the table Kintbury Rangers on the 3G pitch at Green Lane. In an entertaining game between the two title challengers, both of whom played some neat passing football, Kintbury Rangers twice got themselves in front in the first half only to be twice pegged back by Bishops Cannings. James Tomlinson put Kintbury ahead  with his eighth goal of the season but Caleb Hollow restored parity for Bishops Cannings. The same player then went close to making it 2-1, his powerful half-volley from distance coming back off the post. However, it was Kintbury who restored their lead, Joseph Sheridan firing in to make it 2-1, joining his fellow strike partner Tomlinson on eight goals for the season. Both teams continued to create chances in what was turning into an enthralling first half, but the next goal was to go Bishops Cannings way, Harvey Swain bringing it all square again and it remained 2-2 at the break. The second half saw the game continue to be end-to-end only this half the goals were missing. Both teams created numerous chances and the only surprise was that there were to be no more goals. There was late drama in injury time when a Bishops Cannings player went down in the opposition box, but the penalty shouts were waved away and the two sides had to settle for a point apiece. Having lost three games already the dropped points were most damaging to Bishops Cannings title hopes. For Kintbury, a win in their game in hand over the league leaders would see them move to within a point of the leaders, and with eight games still to go they remain on course with their title challenge.  They still have Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Bishops Cannings to play in what is shaping up to be another fascinating title race in the U18 Division.

This week saw four of the five scheduled games in the Under 18 Floodlight Division get played. The only game to fall victim to the issues caused by the weather in recent weeks was the game at Warminster Town where Kintbury Rangers were scheduled to be the visitors.

The action got under way on Monday night when league leaders Royal Wootton Bassett Town made the journey into Berkshire to take on AFC Aldermaston. Despite being bottom of the table, Aldermaston had given Royal Wootton Bassett Town a tough game at the Sustain Stadium earlier in the season and Nick Warren’s side could take nothing for granted in the return. First half goals from Flynn Walters and Jowan Partridge gave Royal Wootton Bassett Town a 2-0 half time lead and they made sure of the points with a third after the break from Rhys Westlake. That is now 12 games unbeaten to start the season for Royal Wootton Bassett Town but with Kintbury Rangers still to play away plus tough looking games home and away to Radstock they still have a lot to do if they are to secure honours this season.

Second placed Kintbury Rangers were left kicking their heals as their game on Thursday night was thwarted by continuing issues with Warminster Town’s pitch caused by the recent wet weather.

On Thursday night Calne Town returned to winning ways with a 6-3 home success over Kingsdown Lions. Samuel Jones gave them an early lead, but Kingsdown were back on level terms shortly after with a goal of their own scored by Josh Atwell. However, Asher Jones restored Calne’s lead on 16 minutes and then Ryan Flynn increased it ten minutes before the break to send Calne into the interval with a two-goal advantage. Two very soon became three after the restart, Joseph Redman with the goal to make it 4-1 to Calne. Kingsdown pulled one back through Tommy Hellewell before Thomas Gates added a fifth for Calne Town. A third for Kingsdown with 20 minutes to go, Hellewell setting up Atwell for his second of the game, saw them get a foothold back in the game. Unfortunately for Kingsdown they were unable to add to their tally and a last-minute penalty for Calne, put away by Asher Jones made sure of all three points for the home side. The win saw Calne Town move above Bishops Cannings into third place, albeit it was to only be for 24 hours.

Melksham Town had beaten Radstock Town on their own ground back in October and were hoping to repeat the feat at the Oakfield Stadium on Thursday night and complete a league double, but Radstock had other ideas. The visitors dominated the game from the start and hit four first half goals to lead 4-0 at the break. A much better second half from Melksham saw them actually win that second half 2-1 but the damage had already been done and it was Radstock Town who left with all three points. Thomas Hobbs led the way for Radstock helping himself to a hat-trick and there were further goals from Bartek Grzywa and substitute Lex Southall. On target for Melksham were Charlie Walder and Dean Kumanga.

On Friday night Bishops Cannings were involved in another entertaining contest on the 3G at Green Lane with Bradford Town the visitors.  Bradford Town started well and took the lead early on following a counterattack led by James Drake who outpaced the home defence before squaring to Luke Masero who slid the ball home. Bishops Cannings upped their game and goals from the division’s leading scorer Jack Smith, netting his 15^th of the season, and further goals from Danny Bowyer and Zak Rawlins saw Bishops Cannings to a 3-1 win. It was not all one way though as Bradford continued to threaten with the pace they possess up front and if they had been able to convert a number of one-on-one opportunities they created with the Bishops Cannings keeper they could quite well have taken something out of the game. The win saw Bishops Cannings move back above Calne Town into third place, five points behind second placed Kintbury Rangers having played one game more.

Frustratingly just three of the scheduled five fixtures in the Under 18 Floodlight Division went ahead this week with the late call offs leaving two sides who could actually have played each other both without a game. The game between Warminster Town and Radstock Town was postponed due to continuing issues with the pitch at Warminster and Bradford Town were unable to raise a side for their fixture against the league leaders Royal Wootton Bassett Town.

The three games that did go ahead saw Kingsdown Lions make the headlines with their best performance of the season which saw them secure all three points courtesy of a 4-1 home win against a Bishops Cannings who had started the week in third spot. Despite Bishops Cannings having plenty of possession early on they found Kingsdown Lions in clinical form in front of goal particularly from set plays. Two goals from free kicks saw the home side take a 2-0 lead into the half time break. Bishops Cannings pulled one back after the restart through Szyman Raczek. The next goal was going to be vitally important in the outcome of the game and it went the way of the home side, Nicholas Wilkes firing in a stunning strike to make it 3-1 to Kingsdown. The home side then added a fourth to make sure of the three points for the Lions. In addition to his wonder goal, Wilkes also scored another to take his total for the season into double figures, the other two goals coming through Jack Byrne and Josh Atwell.

The action in the division had got underway on Monday night when the two Berkshire based sides met at Kintbury Recreation Ground with AFC Aldermaston Kintbury Rangers’ visitors. When the two sides met at Aldermaston earlier in the season Kintbury had run out 7-0 winners and, whilst they secured another win in the return fixture to keep their title challenge on track, it was a lot closer this time around. Goals from Ben Luckett, Ashley Howes and Tane Newton-Cook saw Kintbury secure a 3-0 win that saw them close the gap to the leaders Royal Wootton Bassett Town to four points with a game in hand.

The one game that actually  took place on Thursday night was the match between Melksham Town and Calne Town. Calne had won the first meeting between the two sides but fell behind to a Tom Dowell goal for Melksham. Joseph Badman brought Calne back into the game on 24 minutes and they then went in front for the first time in the match ten minutes before half time with a goal from Thomas Gates. It remained the one goal margin for virtually the whole of the second half but a last-minute goal from  leading scorer Asher Jones made certain of the three points for Calne. For Jones that is now 10 goals so far this campaign. The win for Calne was enough to see them move back above Bishops Cannings into third spot. For Melksham that is now six straight defeats but with a young squad, many of whom will be available still next season, Melksham continue to be competitive and no doubt an end to the tough run of results will not be too far away. 

Next week the action switches away from the league title race to the League Cup with the much postponed Warminster Town v Royal Wootton Bassett Town tie set to place at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground having been switched to the away drawn club under the cup rules following the second postponement due to pitch conditions. In addition, two of the re-scheduled ties in the Second Round are set to place on Monday night, AFC Aldermaston entertaining Radstock Town and Kintbury Rangers hosting Bradford Town.

There was a break from league action this week in the Under 18 Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League as focus turned to the League Cup with two quarter final ties and the one outstanding First Round game which was finally played at the fourth attempt. On Monday night the two quarter final ties took place and both games went to form. In the first game at AFC Aldermaston visitors Radstock Town won for the second time this season at the AWE Recreational Society Ground. Two goals from Lewis Wheeler plus further strikes from Ollie Hulbert and Jayden Purnell did the damage for Radstock as they ran out comfortable 4-0 winners on the night to secure a place in the semi-final.


Their opponents in the semi-final will be Kintbury Rangers who progressed to the last four thanks to a 3-0 win over Bradford Town who were forced into playing a stand-in goalkeeper after a late withdrawal. It was Joe Davies who took over between the posts and it was mainly due to his efforts, including a couple of fine saves in one-on-one situations, that the two teams turned round at half time with the game still looking for its first goal. At the other end Bradford Town, who were without their pacey strikers, were unable to put a strong Kintbury defence under any real pressure. They did finally create an opening early in the second half and went close to taking the lead when Matt Lindsay rounded the Kintbury keeper but unfortunately his shot hit the side netting and it remained 0-0. A break in the deadlock finally did come and it went Kintbury’s way, a Bradford Town defender deflecting the ball into his own net from a Cameron Squires free kick to make it 1-0 to Kintbury. Kintbury then extended their lead with an excellent second goal through Brad Passey before a late penalty put away by James Tomlinson made sure that it was Kintbury who progress to the next round and that date with Radstock Town.

The final game of the week was on Thursday night when Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Warminster Town finally got to play their First Round game at the fourth attempt. Two postponements due to pitch conditions, with fog having also caused another postponement, meant under the cup rules the venue was switched from Warminster to the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground. It was to prove a tight affair all evening with both teams playing a passing game building up from the back.  Whilst Royal Wootton Bassett Town had more of the possession they rarely opened up an organised Warminster back line and the first real chance of the night fell the way of the visitors on 22 minutes when a ball played into the edge of the Royal Wootton Bassett Town box was headed by defender Sonny James in the wrong direction and over the head of his goalkeeper Finlay Cranswick-Coates. Luckily for the home keeper the ball hit his post and then rebounded back across his goal line and was cleared. Ten minutes later the home side had their best chance of the half up to that point when they finally opened up the Warminster defence but Spencer Bowen saw his shot tipped over the bar by Warminster keeper Thomas Jones. The deadlock was finally broken two minutes before half time and, given the lack of clear cut chances in the game, it was no surprise that it came from a dead-ball situation. Warminster were awarded a free kick for a foul right on the edge of the 18-yard box with the attacking player ending up in the box, on another night, it could have seen a penalty awarded. The free kick was in a very central position but Warminster’s Lennon Burden fired a powerful well placed shot around the wall and into the net past Cranwick-Coates to make it 1-0 to the visitors. The lead did not last long though as straight from the kick-off Royal Wootton Bassett went down the other end and a ball into the box saw Flynn Walters clear of the Warminster defence and when he was brought down the referee pointed to the spot giving the home side an immediate chance to bounce back. Leading scorer Jacob Rendell-Haines made no mistake from the penalty spot as the two sides went into the half-time break all square.

The second half continued in a similar fashion to the first with lots of possession football but limited chances being created. With the possibility of extra time looming the final 15 minutes finally saw things opening up as both teams tried to find a winner. Cooper Brooks went close to finding the net for Warminster before Royal Wootton Bassett Town created their best chance of the night in open play, Euan Spackman getting to a ball into the box before visiting keeper Jones and set up Flynn Walters on the edge of the box with the keeper stranded. However, Walters powerful shot was brilliantly blocked on the line by Cole Parmley and cleared to safety. Walters then went close three minutes later but saw his shot turned away by keeper Jones for a corner. There was to be a late winner though when, following another attack from the home side, the ball fell to substitute Joseph Beavis on the edge of the box and his powerful shot gave keeper Jones no chance to make it 2-1 to the home side. Royal Wootton Bassett Town had the ball in the net again moments later and again it was Beavis who fired home after a free kick from Spencer Bowen came back off the bar, but the goal was ruled out by an assistant’s flag for offside. The final whistle went shortly after and it is the home side and league leaders who progress to the next round but, as has been the case in recent league games, they had left it late to get the better of a determined and well organised opponent showing there is very little between all the sides in this Under 18 Division this season. Royal Wootton Bassett Town will now meet Bishops Cannings in the quarter final with the winner of that tie then away to Calne Town in the semi-final.

League Cup

This week saw a full completed round of games in the Under 18 Floodlight Division with all ten sides in action, this was the first time this had happened since the beginning of October due to the bad weather at the back end of last year and the beginning of the new calendar year.

At the top end of the table all the top three sides maintained their quest for honours. At the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground on Thursday night league leaders Royal Wootton Bassett Town had a comfortable win over the young Melksham Town side. Three goals in the first 20 minutes put them in the ascendancy. Rhys Westlake put them ahead on ten minutes tucking away a low ball in from Flynn Walters. Euan Spackman then doubled the home side’s lead with a spectacular shot into the top corner of the net from the edge of the box. Two minutes later Flynn Walters made it 3-0 after a defence splitting pass from Joey Warren. Any chance of a Melksham comeback was ended within a minute of the start of the second half when Euan Spackman scored his second of the game. Joe Beavis then made it 5-0 lifting the ball over the keeper from a central position on the edge of the box. With five minutes remaining the home side were awarded a penalty which Walters put away for six nil and a fine individual goal from the same player in the last minute of the match rounded off a good night for the young striker as he completed his hat-trick in the 7-0 win.

Kintbury Rangers maintained their own title challenge with a 2-0 away win at Bradford Town thanks to goals from Rhys Aitkins and Josh Dopson. They remain four points behind the leaders but with a game in hand with the top two scheduled to meet this coming Monday.

Calne Town consolidated their third-place position with a 2-0 win over Warminster Town. Recent signing from Bishops Cannings Jack Smith netted his first for his new club to open the scoring before Harry Hynes doubled the lead on 54 minutes. That was to be the end of the night’s scoring as Calne safely saw out the remaining minutes to secure that 2-0 win. With six games to go Calne still have an outside chance of league honours and on paper have the easier run in of the top three sides although the cup is probably their best chance of honours this season.  

Not only have Bishops Cannings seen Jack Smith depart to Calne Town but Jack Farion has also departed and lined up for Radstock Town against his former club on Thursday night. Shorn of two of their top three goal scorers this season Bishops Cannings fell to a 2-0 defeat with Farion coming back to haunt his former teammates with Radstock’s second of the night with a second half strike from outside the box. Radstock had taken the lead in the first half through Lex Southall with his fifth goal of the season, but Farion’s strike made sure of the three points. Radstock are someway behind the top two but with games in hand. Like Calne their best chance of honours this season will be in the League Cup where they are set to meet Kintbury Rangers in the semi-final on Monday 27^th March. Bishops Cannings are also still in the cup and have a quarter final date with Royal Wootton Bassett Town scheduled for 16^th March. The winner of that tie will be away to Calne Town in the semi-final on Thursday 30^th March.

The week’s action in the Under 18 Division had got underway on Monday night when Kingsdown Lions made the journey into Berkshire to play AFC Aldermaston. In was all level at 1-1 at the break but Kingsdown stepped up their game in the second half to secure a 4-2 win and continue their good form of late which has seen them pick up seven points in their last four games. On target for Kingsdown were Tyler Preedy, William Tun, Josh Atwell and Nicholas Wilkes, Leon Japhet and Zach Hayton with the two Aldermaston goals.

The eagerly awaited game at the top end of the table between leaders Royal Wootton Bassett Town and second placed Kintbury Rangers was, as expected, a close encounter which in the end saw Kintbury secure a 2-1 win to put themselves in the driving seat for the title.  Unfortunately, the final whistle saw a confrontation involving both sides which will no doubt be looked into by the respective County FA’s. Played in front of a large and vocal crowd it was a tense affair from the start. Kintbury had the better of things in the opening half and despite taking the game to the visitors and creating several chances were unable to find the net and the teams turned round with the game still looking for its first goal. The deadlock was broken early in the second half, Kintbury’s Cameron Squires firing in a powerful shot from distance which took a deflection off a Royal Wootton Bassett Town player and looped over goalkeeper Sam Case. Royal Wootton Bassett Town got themselves back on level terms within ten minutes of Kintbury taking the lead, Joe Beavis reacting quickly when the ball fell to him in the box to make it 1-1 with his seventh goal of the campaign. Ten minutes from time Kintbury restored their lead. From a corner the ball was flicked on and found Josh Dopson who had a free header to make it 2-1, Dopson scoring for the second consecutive game for what proved to be the winner as Kintbury moved to within a point of Royal Wootton Bassett Town with a game in hand. The victory puts Kintbury Rangers in the driving seat for the league title, win their final five games and they will be champions, but they still have some tricky looking games to come against Radstock Town and Bishops Cannings, whilst Royal Wootton Bassett Town still have Radstock Town to play twice.

On the subject of Radstock Town, they went into their away game against Kingsdown Lions having won three games on the spin. That run now extends to four games, and five victories in their last six for one of the form teams in the division, as two second half goals from Thomas Hobbs gave Radstock the three points. The win saw Radstock move above Bishops Cannings into fourth place in the table ahead of Monday night’s trip to Kintbury Rangers.

The final game of the week was on Thursday night at Trowbridge Road, Bradford-on-Avon where Bradford Town’s visitors were Calne Town. It started well for Calne Town, Harry Hyres scoring in the very first minute with Reuban Badman doubling the lead with just ten minutes on the clock. Bradford Town responded well to falling two goals behind and quickly got a foothold back in the game when leading scorer Luke Masero cut in from the left and drilled a shot into the top corner of the net. The 20^th minute saw a pivotal moment in the game when home keeper Joe Beaverstock was sent off and Bradford Town were reduced to ten men and forced to utilise a stand-in keeper. Calne quickly took advantage of the extra man with leading scorer Asher Jones adding to his total with Calne’s third. Again Bradford Town responded well to going two goals behind once more, Masero scoring his second of the game and eighth of the season to make it 3-2 to Calne at the break. Second half Calne upped the tempo and took full advantage of the extra players to score three unanswered goals through Jacob Sealy, Jack Smith and the other Jack Smith who recently joined from Bishops Cannings, to make the final score 6-2 to the visitors, their fourth straight win. Calne remain six points behind Kintbury with five games to go and seven points behind Royal Wootton Bassett Town having played one game less than the leaders and are still very much in the hand for potential league honours. For Bradford Town that is now eight games without a win ahead of the visit of league leaders Royal Wootton Bassett Town next week. The scheduled game for Friday night between Bishops Cannings and Warminster Town was postponed by Warminster who were unable to raise a side.

The snow in midweek coupled with AFC Aldermaston being the latest team unable to raise a side for a Friday night fixture at Bishops Cannings meant just the one game went ahead this week in the Under 18 Floodlight Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League.

The game that did get played could have a big bearing on the title race as it involved Kintbury Rangers who were home to Radstock Town. At the start of the night Kintbury had the destiny of the title in their own hands, win all their games and they would be champions. However, Radstock themselves were in their best form of the season having won four straight games ahead of Monday’s visit. It looked like Kintbury would start their final five league games with a win to go top of the table as they led 2-1 with five minutes to go thanks to goals from Ashley Howes, with his eighth of the season, and Jon Canolli, Jack Farion having scored for Radstock. They were denied that victory though as Shaniel Mwaura got on the end of a cross at the far post to head Radstock level to extend Radstock’s unbeaten run and deny Kintbury the three points. The draw was still enough to enable Kintbury to move joint top of the table with Royal Wootton Bassett Town, with both sides still having four games to play. With FA rules not allowing goal difference to be applied in Under 18 competitions if the top two win all four of their remaining games, then a play-off would be needed. Royal Wootton Bassett Town still have Radstock Town to play twice in their remaining four fixtures so Radstock could well have a further big say in the title race before the end of the season.

There were three games played in the Under 18 Floodlight Division on Thursday night, two in the league plus the one outstanding Under 18 Cup quarter final tie.

In the league, with nearest rivals for the title Royal Wootton Bassett Town engaged in cup action, Kintbury Rangers had the opportunity to open up a three-point lead at the top of the table if they could secure a win away at Melksham Town. They did not disappoint the travelling support on a wet evening, as a penalty from Cameron Squires, together with two goals from James Tomlinson either side of one from Nathanial Martin , secured a 4-1 away win. A first of the season in reply from Frank Dunn for Melksham Town. Kintbury are back in action again on Monday night when they entertain Kingsdown Lions at the Recreation Ground where they have the chance to extend that lead at the top to six points with a win over a Lions side who will be playing their penultimate game of the season. 

Again in the league on Thursday night in-form Calne Town were in action away at Warminster Town and went into the game on the back of four straight wins. That winning run now extends to five games as they hit five unanswered goals past Warminster. Star of the show was Joseph Redman with a hat-trick, with one apiece for Harry Hyres and Thomas Gates. The win saw Calne Town move to within four points of second placed Royal Wootton Bassett Town and are still very much in the mix for honours this season with four games to go.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Bishops Cannings met on the 3G at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground in the final League Cup quarter final tie. Royal Wootton Bassett Town edged in front when a defensive error allowed Flynn Walters to pounce and put his side 1-0 to the good. The same player then extended his sides lead, picking up the ball midway in the opponents half he strode forward to the edge of the box and then fired in a low shot that beat the Bishops Cannings keeper and nestled in the bottom left hand side of the net for 2-0. Bishops Cannings had chances of their own in the first half but found themselves two goals behind at the break. They game out second half looking to get back in the game and were finally rewarded with a goal 15 minutes from time, a ball over the top finding Szyman Raczek who neatly tucked the ball under the keeper for 2-1. Bishops Cannings pushed for an equaliser, but the home side’s defence held out to ensure progress to the last four where they will be away to Calne Town in two weeks’ time.

U18 League Cup - Season 2022-23

Action from Radstock Town's 5-3 win over RWBT on Thursday night (pictures courtesy of Steve Green)

Just two games survived the wet weather but both featured the top two sides and it is very much advantage Kintbury Rangers after nearest rivals Royal Wootton Bassett Town lost at home for the first time this season.

On Monday night at Kintbury Recreation Ground the home side Kintbury Rangers were looking to put the pressure on their nearest rivals by opening up a six point lead at the top of the table with a win over Kingsdown Lions. Kingsdown have been in much better form in the second half of the season and could not be taken for granted. However, any nerves that may have existed in the Kintbury camp were quickly settled with a goal in the first few minutes and they were to add three more in the opening 25 minutes to effectively end the game as a contest by half time. Those first half goals came through Ashley Howes, James Tomlinson ad Brad Passey, with the other goal being an own goal from a Passey corner. Kingsdown continued to battle away and a much improved second half saw them concede just one more goal, the scorer for Kintbury being Joseph Sheridan with his ninth goal of the campaign as it finished 5-0. With just two games to go Kintbury now need four points from those two games which are against Warminster Town and Bishops Cannings to be guaranteed the league title.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town were hoping to keep the pressure on Kintbury when they met an in-form Radstock Town side on Thursday night at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground and it looked like things were very much going to plan until the closing stages of the game. The home side went in front early on when, following a corner, the ball was played back into the Radstock box by Euan Spackman and full-back Spencer Bowen, who had taken the original corner, was on hand to smash the ball into the net for 1-0. Royal Wootton Bassett Town then doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark, the goal coming somewhat against the run of play and the result of an error in the Radstock defence, their keeper spilling the ball at the feet of the home side’s Joe Beavis who seized on the opportunity to give his side a 2-0 lead. Radstock continued to push to get a foothold back in the game and were duly rewarded when a cross into the box was not properly cleared and the ball fell to Barclay Lloyd-Foster just inside the 18-yard box and he fired in for 2-1.

The second half continued to see the visitors Radstock have the better of things, but they were to fall further behind just before the hour mark, a throw-in from the left was flicked on at the near post and fell to substitute Jacob Rendell-Haines who had only just come on and he headed home to make the score 3-1 to Royal Wootton Bassett Town. Having regained their two-goal advantage, the home side for some reason went very defensive sitting deeper and deeper inviting the visitors to take the game to them. Whilst Radstock were creating numerous chances it remained 3-1 and it took a free kick on 77 minutes to get them back in the game. The freekick on the edge of the box was taken by Radstock’s Lex Southall who hit a powerful low shot towards goal which took a deflection off a Royal Wootton Bassett Town defender and ended in the back of the net for 3-2. Radstock now had their tails up and went in search of an equaliser. That equaliser was to come five minutes from time from a throw-in on the right. Just as the throw-in was about to be taken for some reason a Royal Wootton Bassett Town player decided to sit down holding his leg but the game was allowed to continue and the ball was flicked on from the throw-in and headed in by Bartek Grzywa for 3-3 and a huge dent in the home side’s title chances. Royal Wootton Bassett Town knew they had to win the game and now finally came out of their defensive shell. By doing so they left themselves vulnerable at the back and when keeper Finlay Cranswick-Coates failed to gather a difficult high ball into the box and the ball hit Ryan Thatcher on the head and ended up in the back of the net for 4-3 to Radstock it looked game over for the home side. It went from bad to worse when Cranswick-Coates failed to hold onto a powerful low shot and the ball fell to Lewis Wheeler who fired in for 5-3, making it three goals for Radstock in those last five minutes of normal time plus stoppage time to win the game. That is now six games unbeaten for Radstock, five of which have been won ahead of next week’s big cup semi-final against the league leaders Kintbury Rangers. In the title race, it is now very much advantage Kintbury, four points from their remaining two games and they will be crowned champions, whilst Royal Wootton Bassett Town will be hoping that either Warminster Town or Bishops Cannings can do them a favour and then needing to make sure they do not drop any more points.

Next week the focus switches to the League Cup with the two semi-finals set to take place. On Monday night there is the Kintbury Rangers v Radstock tie, whilst on Thursday night Calne Town host Royal Wootton Bassett Town.

More action from Radstock Town's 5-3 win over RWBT

(pictures courtesy of Steve Green)

There was just the one game played this week involving teams in the Under 18 Floodlight Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League, with the cup semi-final between league leaders Kintbury Rangers and Radstock Town taking place on Monday night. The other semi-final between Calne Town and Royal Wootton Bassett Town and the league game between Warminster Town and Bradford Town were both postponed on Thursday night due to waterlogged pitches.

Whilst league leaders Kintbury are now looking odds on to lift the title, Radstock Town are the other form team in the division and went into the cup semi-final game on Monday on the back of a six-game unbeaten run that had seen them win five of those six games. The only game not won being a 2-2 draw with their cup opponents three weeks earlier. Once again it was a tight affair won by a headed goal from Radstock’s Ollie Thomas. Kintbury Rangers best chance of the game came with the award of a penalty which unfortunately for them was missed as it finished 1-0 to the visitors, who extended that unbeaten run to seven games. Radstock will meet the winner of the Calne Town and Royal Wootton Bassett on April 20^th at Melksham Town’s ground.

The cup semi final between Calne Town and Royal Wootton Bassett Town, postponed last week, finally went ahead on Thursday night at Bremhill View. It was visitors Royal Wootton Bassett Town who went ahead, Alan de Paula heading in from a corner on 20 minutes. However, Calne were back on level terms by the break, Joseph Redman firing into the bottom corner of the net a minute before half time after the ball fell to him inside the box. It remained all square until 13 minutes from time when Jack Smith put Calne ahead for the first time in the game. Royal Wootton Bassett Town sent centre back Sonny James forward as they pushed for an equaliser in the final ten minutes, but the game was put beyond them a minute from time when Smith bagged his second of the game to book Calne’s place in the final. Calne will now meet Radstock Town in the final scheduled to take place at Melksham Town on Thursday 20^th April.

The two scheduled league games involving AFC Aldermaston against Radstock Town and Melksham Town were both postponed with Aldermaston unable to raise a side, as was the game at Warminster where visitors Kintbury Rangers were unable to fulfil the fixture.

The one league game that actually went ahead produced an entertaining game on a heavy outside pitch at the Oakfield Stadium between Melksham Town and Kingsdown Lions. Melksham produced one of their best performances of the season against a Kingsdown Lions side who were playing their final league game of the season. There was very little between the two sides in the opening half, Kingsdown Lions had a shot cleared off the line and Melksham twice hit the frame of the goal. The deadlock was broken a minute from half time, a Caiden Rose cross in from the left seeing a smart finish from Reuban Rule to make it 1-0 to Melksham at the break. Melksham stepped up their game after the break and extended their lead on 51 minutes, Caiden Rose firing in after the loose ball fell to him. Kingsdown sought to get a foothold back in the game and went close, hitting the frame of the goal but the game was finally put to bed nine minutes from time, Frank Dunn heading in from a corner to make the final score 3-0 to Melksham.

U18 League Cup

There was just one game played in the Under 18 Floodlight Division and it saw Warminster Town entertain Radstock Town at Weymouth Street. Radstock Town, the in-form side in the division, warmed up for next week’s cup final against Calne Town with a 3-1 win which saw them move to within three points of third placed Calne Town. Radstock fielded a young side that included 13 players in the 16-man squad who will still be available next season. On target for Radstock were Bill Tucker, Thomas Hobbs and Bartek Grzywa, the latter two both scoring their ninth goals of the season.

Next week’s fixtures include not only that cup final between Radstock Town and Calne Town but also a double header between Melksham Town and Warminster Town plus a game between Bradford Town and Royal Wootton Bassett Town where Royal Wootton Bassett Town will be looking to move to within three points of leaders Kintbury Rangers.

Thursday night saw the staging of the third Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Under 18 League Cup Final, the setting for the final being the Oakfield Stadium home of Melksham Town FC. The two finalists, Calne Town and Radstock Town, both went into the final on the back of excellent seasons in the league, with Calne Town currently sat third in the table and Radstock just one place behind in fourth place. Calne still have a good chance of finishing runners-up, and Radstock will have a big say in who finishes as runners-up with both Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Calne Town, the two sides in contention for honours behind leaders Kintbury Rangers, to play. The one meeting between Calne Town and Radstock Town so far this season in the league, had seen Calne Town win 3-2 at Bremhill View back in October.

Radstock Town went into the final as the form team in the Under 18 Division, unbeaten in their last seven games in all competitions, six of which have been won. The unbeaten run was even more impressive given that three of those seven games were against the top two sides in the division, Kintbury Rangers and Royal Wootton Bassett Town. Radstock had reached the final by defeating AFC Aldermaston and then league leaders Kintbury Rangers, the latter a narrow 1-0 semi-final success.

Calne Town also had an impressive record coming into the final having won all six of their most recent games in all competitions, that run of victories included a 3-1 defeat of Royal Wootton Bassett Town in the semi-final. The other side Calne defeated on their way to the final was Kingsdown Lions, again the score was 3-1 in their quarter final tie. Calne had been beaten finalists in the inaugural Under 18 League Cup Final, losing 3-2 to New College in 2019, whilst Radstock were playing in their first final.

It was Radstock who started the better on a windy evening at the Oakfield Stadium, with Calne looking nervous in the opening minutes. Calne eventually settled those nerves and went in front on 13 minutes, a misplaced pass out of defence fell to Jack Smith and he had the simple task of putting the ball into the net to make it 1-0 to Calne. Calne extended their lead on the half hour mark, and it was Smith again with his second of the game, executing a calm and composed finish into the bottom corner for 2-0. It remained 2-0 at the break.

The second half saw Radstock looking to get back in the game but now with rain also adding to the difficult conditions. Radstock were unable to create any clear-cut chances in those difficult conditions and found themselves further behind around the hour mark, Calne scoring what turned out to be the best goal of the game. After build up play down the left, the ball fell to Henri Parry-Williams on the edge of the box, and he smashed in on the volley from 20-yards out giving Radstock keeper Tom Crouch no chance to give Calne a 3-0 lead. Calne saw out the remaining half an hour without conceding, their disciplined defensive performance restricting Radstock to a limited number of half chances. Their defensive discipline and clinical edge in front of goal ensured they went one better than in 2019 and lifted the cup for the first time. Well done to the Calne Town players and the management team of Josh Carey, Dan Carey, Malcolm Sealy and Josh Fry on their cup success and congratulations also to Ian Lanning and his Radstock Town team on making the final and for their performances so far in a very competitive Under 18 Division this season.

Teams come out for the final (picture Matthew Meaden)

Action from U18 League Cup Final (picture Matthew Meaden)

Action from U18 League Cup Final (picture Simon Lawrence)

Action from U18 League Cup Final (picture Simon Lawrence)

Click on picture below to view PDF of the Cup Final Programme

Thursday night also saw a couple of league games played including Warminster Town and Melksham Town meeting for the second time in the week. On Tuesday night the two sides had met at the Oakfield Stadium, and it had resulted in a comfortable win for the home side following another good performance from Steve Rendell’s side. Melksham were 4-0 up at half time thanks to goals from Owen Allison, a brace from Dean Kumanga and one from Reuban Rule. The second half saw Melksham add one more to their total and it was the best goal of the night, Frank Dunn scoring with a diving header from a Reuban Rule pinpoint cross to make the final score 5-0. Warminster had played their part in a good game, but the difference had been that Melksham had been clinical in front of goal.  

It was a much closer game in the return on Thursday night at Warminster in an entertaining nine-goal game in which there was never more than one goal in it between the two sides with the winning goal coming in the eighth minute of added time. The first half saw the two teams share six goals and it was then all square at 4-4 with both sides scoring another one each after the break before the dramatic ending.  There was to be a winner though in the eighth minute of injury time with Melksham getting that late winner to complete a league double in the space of a few days. The goals were shared around the Melksham side with one apiece for Charlie Warren, Tom Dowell, Caiden Rose, Harry Messenger and Luke Gonsalves, two from Joseph Stockley and one from both Lennon Burden and Cooper Brooks in reply for Warminster in this nine goal thriller. 

Whilst the game at Warminster was something of a goal fest it was a different story at Trowbridge Road, Bradford-on-Avon where Royal Wootton Bassett Town were looking to keep their quest for honours alive against Bradford Town. In the end a solitary goal from Royal Wootton Bassett Town centre back Alan De Paula was the only difference between the two sides. The win for Royal Wootton Bassett Town saw them move to within three points of leaders Kintbury Rangers with both teams having two games to play. Kintbury Rangers are home to Bishops Cannings this coming Monday and then finish with a trip to Warminster Town. Royal Wootton Bassett Town are home to Warminster Town next Thursday and then finish with a tricky looking away trip to Radstock Town.

Unfortunately due to issues with their floodlights and difficulties with raising a side for games that would need to take place away from AFC Aldermaston, Aldermaston have advised they will be unable to complete their remaining fixtures and, after consulting the other clubs in the division, the games have been awarded to their opponents.

The Under 18 Division edged closer to completion with three games played this week, two on Monday night and then one on Thursday.

On Monday night league leaders Kintbury Rangers put one hand firmly on the Under 18 Division champions trophy with a resounding 5-0 win over Bishops Cannings. When the two sides had met earlier in the season, they had shared four goals and the points, but this time round Bishops Cannings were no match for the league leaders. Leading scorer James Tomlinson helped himself to a hat-trick and further goals from Cameron Squires and Joseph Sheridan, the latter taking his tally for the season into double figures, completed the scoring.

Radstock Town were back in action on Monday looking to bounce back from their cup final defeat at the hands of Calne Town. They travelled to Bradford Town with an outside chance of still finishing runners-up if they could defeat Bradford Town and then also defeat the two teams above them Calne Town and Royal Wootton Bassett Town, and then hope Bishops Cannings and Warminster Town could do them a favour in their games against the top two. They kept their hopes of honours alive on Monday night with a 5-2 away win, Thomas Hobbs firing a hat-trick, with Jayden Purnell and Archie Bullock also on target, Iwan Legg and Lyndon Banfield replying for Bradford Town.

On Thursday night Melksham Town ended their season on a winning note with their fourth straight win in an excellent end to the season. It was a dominant performance against Bradford Town from the start with Melksham two up within the first 15 minutes thanks to goals from Kegan Smart and Tom Dowell. It remained that way at the break. Melksham continued to dominate possession in the second half but it was only late on that they finally made sure of the three points, Tom Dowell with his second of the game to make the final score 3-0 to Melksham.

The scheduled fixture between Warminster Town and Royal Wootton Bassett Town was postponed with Warminster unable to raise a side. The game has now been rescheduled for this coming Thursday and hopefully Warminster will get to play their games against the top two so that the league honours for two of Kintbury Rangers, Royal Wootton Bassett Town, Calne Town and Radstock Town are won on the pitch.

This week saw the honours in the Under 18 Floodlight Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League all decided. On Monday night a solitary goal from Radstock Town’s Theo King was enough to give the home side Radstock a 1-0 win over Royal Wootton Bassett Town thus ending the visitors’ chances of pipping Kintbury Rangers for the league title. King’s goal was a strike from distance and ensured Radstock continued their excellent end of season form in the league which now extended to nine unbeaten games. The win for Radstock meant Kintbury had won the title with a game to spare, the final game against Warminster Town, now scheduled for next Wednesday, no longer has relevance to the title race. Congratulations to Kintbury on their title success, with that one game still to go they have lost just one in the league all season, that an early season loss away at Royal Wootton Bassett Town. The defeat for Royal Wootton Bassett Town also meant that, not only had the title quest been ended, achieving runners-up was also not just in their own hands, they would now need Radstock to do them a favour by taking points off Calne Town in their game scheduled for Thursday night.

Kintbury Rangers U18s Champions of the U18 Floodlight Division

On Thursday night, Royal Wootton Bassett Town, Calne Town and Radstock Town went into their respective games with just a single point separating all three but with Calne Town having a game in hand over the other two, knowing that if they won both their games, they would be certain of runners-up spot. For Royal Wootton Bassett Town a win against Warminster Town at home was essential and then they needed Radstock to take points off Calne, a Calne defeat would see Royal Wootton Bassett Town take that runners-up spot, a draw would mean a play-off would be needed if Calne Town then defeated Bishops Cannings in their final game. For Radstock to finish as runners-up they needed to beat Calne and hope Royal Wootton Bassett failed to beat Warminster and that Bishops Cannings then won that final game against Calne Town.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town did what they needed to do against Warminster Town. An early goal from Jowan Partridge settled any nerves but it was only in the second half that they made certain of the three points. A goal from Joey Warren doubled the lead and a third from Charlie Stammers put them in a commanding position. Warminster pulled one back from the penalty spot before late goals from Joe Beavis and a second for Partridge saw the game finish 5-1.

Down in Radstock the home side Radstock Town were not only looking to get the win for a possible second place finish but also avenge the recent defeat against Calne Town in the cup final. It started well for Radstock two first half goals saw them lead 2-0 at the break. Whilst Calne game back at Radstock in the second half scoring two of their own through Jack Smith and Woody Smart a third for Radstock ensured the unbeaten league run extended to ten games to end their season. On target for Radstock were Jack Farion with two and Tom Hobbs and also meant that Royal Wootton Bassett Town would be confirmed as runners-up for the second season running.

The final game of the week was on Friday night at Green Lane, and it saw Warminster Town back in action again away to Bishops Cannings as they end the season with four games in the final two weeks of the campaign due to pitch issues during the winter months. The two sides had drawn 2-2 back in October but it was to be a one-sided affair in the return game with Bishops Cannings hitting eight unanswered goals. On target for Bishops Cannings in the 8-0 win were Szyman Raczak, who helped himself to a hat-trick, Oliver Brogden, Harvey Swain, Jack Cross, Aaron Joseph and Tyler Moore. The win for Bishops Cannings saw them move above Melksham Town into fifth place. Warminster will play their final two games next week at their opponent’s grounds with maintenance work already underway on their own pitch.

Just two of the four scheduled games in the Under 18 Floodlight Division ended up being played last week with the final two games postponed this week being dealt with by the Management Committee.

The two games that did go ahead both involved Bishops Cannings. On Monday they met near neighbours Calne Town at Green Lane, and it was the visitors who left with all three points following a 3-0 win. Two goals in the opening four minutes plus another before half time meant the game was as good as won at the break, two goals for Woody Smart and one for Ryan Flynn giving Calne that half time lead. Bishops Cannings ensured there was no further damage done after the break as the 3-0 score line ended up being the final result. The win for Calne meant they finished joint third, level on points with Radstock Town behind the champions Kintbury Rangers and the runners-up Royal Wootton Bassett Town. Bishops Cannings were already guaranteed fifth place, so the defeat had no impact on their final position.

Warminster Town were also scheduled to play Bradford Town on Monday night. With their own ground already no longer available Warminster Town were going the extra mile to try and complete their fixtures by playing on their opponents’ grounds, starting with the Bradford Town fixture. With both teams changed, ready and keen to play frustratingly the match was postponed by the referee just before the kick-off, deeming the pitch to be unplayable. With the Bradford Town pitch also now no longer available the game will not be played and has been deemed a draw by the Management Committee with a point to each side.

Warminster were also scheduled to travel to Kintbury Rangers on Thursday night for their final game of the season but following Monday’s events unsurprisingly Warminster were unable to raise a side, with management, players and parents frustrated by the call off on Monday. As a result, the points from that game have been awarded to Kintbury Rangers but with the title already decided this has no impact on final positions.

There was one further game that did get played on Thursday night with Bishops Cannings completing their fixtures with a trip to Bradford Town. There was nothing at stake for Bishops Cannings, but Bradford Town knew that a win for them would see them climb out of the bottom two above Warminster Town. It was an exciting and close affair. The first half was dominated by Bradford Town who took the lead through Luke Masero. However, Bishops Cannings responded immediately, Aaron Joseph finding the net after a counter attack down the left. The rest of the half saw more pressure from Bradford Town but they were unable convert any of the chances that came their way and it remained all-square at the break. The second half saw Bishops Cannings take more control of the game but stoic defending from Bradford kept the scores level. The home side went back in front when they were awarded a penalty after Josh Roddy was brought down in the box after a run that had seen him beat three defenders. Roddy picked himself up, dusted himself down and duly put the spot kick away sending the keeper the wrong way. The final 15 minutes saw Bishops Cannings pushing for an equaliser but the home team held on to finish their season with a win. The victory saw Bradford Town climb above Warminster Town in the final table.

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