Calne crash to defeat after lengthy lay-off

THIS was Calne's first match in three weeks due to some rain imposed cancellations, and how it showed.

Wellington started at a blinding pace and practically killed the game off in the opening quarter.

Wellington stormed ahead after 12 minutes when Simon Towler's point-blank shot was parried away superbly by Calne's Ali Wicks, only for Simon Trevelyan to head the loose ball home.

Calne were stunned, and on 20 minutes a Matt Brereton right-wing cross, was challenged for by Wicks, under pressure, without a defender in sight, and again the ball broke loose, to be knocked in by Matt Burfield. Two minutes later and it was three, another long ball from the right by Darren Knowling, and again Trevelyan snapped up the easy opportunity.

Calne battled hard throughout the remainder of the match, Andy Waller shooting over in the 43rd minute and Phil Penning having a shot cleared off the line in the 61st minute, before he was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Calne's ten men kept going forward in search of hope and Toby Colbourne provided it with his trademark 35 yarder from wide on the right on 84 minutes. But Wellington proved too strong and experienced and held on for a deserved win.

This Saturday Calne travel to Street and on Tuesday play Bridgwater in the Les Phillips Cup.

Brislington 1, Devizes Town 2

DEVIZES bounced back from their humiliating Les Phillips Cup exit at the hands of Frome Town in midweek to record their sixth league success of the season, which pushes Brian Newlands' side back into the top half of the Premier Division.

Brislington started the brighter side and took an early lead after six minutes. Devizes goalkeeper David Rice, who has replaced Paul Thompson following the crowd favourite's move to Mangotsfield United, failed to deal with Nathan Brown's outswinging corner, allowing Craig Russell to power home a close range header.

To their credit, Devizes responded with a well worked goal of their own. Julian Alexander, a constant threat to the Brislington rearguard, provided the ammunition with a superb centre from the by-line which allowed Barry Flippance to equalise with a deft near post header past Brislington goalkeeper Micheal Kearns.

Further torment from Alexander led to Town taking a deserved lead on 32 minutes. This time his probing run down the right flank exposed more frailities in the hosts' defence. And when his cut back arrived at the feet of Nathan Sheridan, the Town midfielder excepted his chance with a sublime finish.

The second period began with Nigel Curtis going close for the visitors from another Alexander cross. Wing back Nick Mooney shot wide after Flippance's initial shot was parried by keeper Kearns.

Brislington manager Tony Ricketts made a triple substitution on the hour and one of his replacements, Mike Branch, went close to equalising, only being denied by a superb save from Rice, who was again at his best to prevent Gary Davis' first time shot from entering the net.

This Saturday Devizes entertain Barnstaple and on Tuesday night they travel to Downton to play their re-arranged Wilts Premier Shield cup tie, kick off 7.30 pm.

l DEVIZES are still searching for a chairman following Ron Moore's resignation. Anyone interested in the position should contact Mark Surman on Devizes (01380-722817) for further details.

Trowbridge Town 1,

Corsham Town 5

TROWBRIDGE, playing their first match since October 21, found their Screwfix Direct League First Division opponents too strong in this Wiltshire Senior Cup tie.

The home side found it very difficult to find their rhythm and it came as no surprise when the visitors took the lead after 17 minutes, Corsham player-manager Rob Humphries producing the required finish.

Seven minutes late Chris Henry ran through well and looked certain to net the equaliser but the ball went agonisingly wide of the left hand post.

Trowbridge then had Mark Conners dismissed for a second bookable offence, making the already difficult task much harder.

On the stroke of half-time Corsham scored their second through Chris Weekes from close range after a fumble by Trowbridge goalkeeper Chris Vaughan.

The second half started brightly when Andy Doel forced an early corner that was easily dealt with by the solid Corsham defence.

Corsham went further ahead in the 56th minute through Chris Weekes. Despite the 3-0 deficit, Trowbridge were not quite finished and created a number chances, most of them well saved by Craig Chaplin in the Corsham goal.

The home supporters finally had something to cheer about in the 62nd minute when Neil Kirkpatrick headed home from a corner to make it 1-3.

Any celebrations were short lived though when Corsham wrapped the game up with two late goals, the fourth a fine solo effort by Simon Bray and the final goal by James Griffen.

Wroughton 0, Pewsey Vale 0

(Pewsey won 3-2 on penalties)

WILTSHIRE Senior Cup holders Pewsey Vale held their nerve to prevent Wroughton causing the big suprise of the first round.

Wiltshire League Wroughton held Screwfix League Vale to a goalless draw after extra-time and into a penalty shoot-out, but it was Vale who won the nail biting penalty shoot-out.

Vale should have won the game during the 90 minutes, after hitting the post and cross bar on several occasions and being guilty of poor finishing. A great chance in the first ten minutes came for the Vale only to see Colin Yeates shoot over the bar.

Another chance came to Vale captain Alan Blake, who could only scoop the ball against the post.

The first half ended with Pewsey putting most of the pressure on the home side, but the Wroughton defence denied the Vale a half-time lead

During the opening minutes of the second half Wroughton started to pressurise the Vale, but Pewsey came back and were unlucky not to go into the lead, with a shot just clipping the cross bar.

With five minutes to go the Vale had the ball kicked off the goal line.

Extra-time continued as with the 90 minutes and for the second half of extra-time the Vale brought on Tom Ritchie and Mark Fields, for Tom Adams and Paul Cooper, but the game was destined to go to the penalty shoot-out and, as in last season's final, Vale ran out winners and go into the second round.

Pewsey return to league action on Saturday, with a First Division game at Ilfracombe.

CHIPPENHAM Town, whose weekend game with Dawlish was called off because of Devon county call-ups, return to action on Saturday with a trip to Premier Division championson Taunton.

Manager, Tommy Saunders said: "We're going up there with pretty much a full strength team, and so we will have no excuses. If they win then they will definitely go on to win the league."

"We're going to be professional and just try and keep things tight, we will just see if we can catch them on the break. If it looks like we're going to lose, we'll go down in a blaze of glory."

Two coach loads of supporters from Chippenham are expected to make the trip. Some places are still available and for the coaches for the FA Cup game at Barking on December 9.

Further details from Jessica Swanborough, telephone (01249) 656089.