Boom time for the league

From the archive, first published Tuesday 25th Oct 2005.

NORTH WILTS & DISTRICT YOUTH & MINOR LEAGUE: With school half-term kicking in there was only a limited programme of matches.

Prior to the onset of the school holidays the league had seen 644 competitive games played, an increase over the previous season by some 21 per cent.

Now in its third season, the league continues to go from strength to strength.

Under 18

Early pace setters are new club Chippenham Wanderers, who have a 100 per cent record from their opening six games.

Both Stratton Juniors and Wootton Bassett Town ran the leaders close, the latter leading 2-0 at half-time in their game only to see the Wanderers come back to win 3-2, the same score as in the Stratton game.

Chippenham have the goal-scoring firepower of Johnny Moriarty (13 goals) and Mark Dolman (eight) to thank for their current pole position.

Stratton Juniors are three points behind North Swindon Panthers following their 4-2 away win at Swindon Badgers in the only game played on Sunday.

On target for Badgers were Kieran Randall-Jennings and Jason Ponting, both getting their fourth goal of the season.

Leading scorers: Craig Taylor (North Swindon Panthers) 20, Johnny Moriarty (Chippenham Wanderers) 13, Chris Godwin (Cirencester Town) 9, Mark Dolman (Chippenham Wanderers) 8, Tim Gleed (Wootton Bassett Town) 7.

Under 16

Both unbeaten teams in the division, Stratton Juniors and Kingsdown United, were forced to postpone their games this weekend due to a Kingsdown school trip and this allowed Wroughton A to leapfrog over Kingsdown into second place, two points behind Stratton Juniors.

This followed a stunning performance under lights at Wootton Bassett Town on Thursday night. In a game between two sides previously separated by just a point, Wroughton A were ahead within a minute when Adam Leighfield fired in an impressive free-kick from 25 yards.

Wroughton extended their lead a couple of minutes later and kept the high tempo up as they raced into a 6-0 half-time lead, the other goals coming from Adam Burson, Sean Bailey, Paul Bains, Jack Gannon and another for Leighfield.

Stunned by the first half hammering, Bassett came out after the break and tried to make a fight of it, getting on the score sheet through Johnny Aitkenhead who fired a powerful free kick past James Moore in the Wroughton goal.

Despite having the better of the second period Bassett failed to add to their goal tally and allowed two sloppy goals at the end through Matt Purse and Burson to give Wroughton A an emphatic 8-1 win.

Greenmeadow climbed into sixth place with a 4-0 away win at Highworth Juniors, Josh Henshall netting all four goals to take his tally to 14.

Cricklade Youth made it two wins on the bounce with a 3-0 away success at Wroughton C thanks to goals from Aaron Cushion (2) and Sam Walton.

After six consecutive defeats Walcot Wanderers returned to winning ways with a 4-1 away success at Lydiard Youth, Zig Wardale, Jack Lumsden, James Stares and Nathan Peters for Walcot, Jonathan Harmer with the consolation goal for Lydiard Youth.

Leading scorers: Joe White (Kingsdown United) 17, Adam Leighfield (Wroughton A) 16, Richard Crocker (Ferndale Rodbourne) 14, Josh Henshall (Greenmeadow) 14, Dave Glover (Stratton Juniors) 12.

Under 15

It was County Cup weekend at this age group and the one scheduled league game between Stratton Juniors B and Shaw was postponed by Shaw.

Leading scorers: Max Etheridge (AFC Barbury) 24, Stuart Hillis(AFC Barbury) 15, David Bray (Westlea Wanderers) 14, Peter Walker (Fairford) 11, Daryl Charman (Shaw) 10.

Under 14 Division 1

In another division that saw the games involving most of the leading teams postponed, Lydiard Youth were the only side in the top five to play and will be rueing missed chances and dropped points following a 0-0 draw with Croft Juniors.

Fairford climbed up into fifth place in the table with a 4-0 away win at bottom of the table Liden Community. Leading scorer Danny Lloyd scored twice taking his total for the season to eight, with James Skinner and Todd Hathaway scoring one apiece.

There was plenty of smiles at Greenmeadow as they won their first league game in the top division, a 4-1 home success over Old Town United, thanks to goals from Carl Read (2), Joesph Blackford and Lee Horgan.

Leading scorers: Sam Aldridge (Bemerton Heath Harlequins) 16, Sam Jenner (Malmesbury) 16, Callum Coker (Bemerton Heath Harlequins) 10, Jordan McGovern (Ferndale Rodbourne) 9, Danny Lloyd (Fairford) 8.

Under 14 Division 2

In the only division where every side was in action, the three leading sides all won.

Leaders Swindon Soccer Skills hit six without reply at Wootton Bassett Town, the division's leading scorers, Tom Melton-Ruddock and Oumar Balde both hitting a brace, Manuel Rodrigues with the other goals.

Purton remained three points behind with a game in hand with a 4-1 home success over Highworth Juniors courtesy of goals from Josh Harper (2), Jamie Clark and Sam Sundberg.

Shrivenham & Watchfield are two points further back after a narrow 4-3 victory over a Blunsdon Colts side that are still looking for their first point of the season. On target for Shrivenham & Watchfield were Daniel Perrett, Dominic Hill, Joe Thompson and Simon Jesset.

The day was rounded off with a 9-1 win to Stratton Juniors B which lifted the Stratton side up into fourth place in the table.

Sherston and Brunel Boys shared six goals and the points, Sam Parker (2) and Will Barrass for Sherston and James Clifford (2) and Steven Bassi for Brunel.

Leading scorers: Tom Melton-Ruddock (Swindon Soccer Skills) 12, Oumer Balde (Swindon Soccer Skills) 11, Adam Bedwell (Purton) 9, Adam Warner (Ramsbury) 9, James Clifford (Brunel Boys) 9.

Under 13 Division 1

Two sides, Shrivenham & Watchfield and Ferndale Rodbourne A, remain unbeaten after five games.

League title holders Shaw have already dropped three points and currently sit in fourth spot, two points behind Stratton Juniors B.

At the other end of the table both Croft Juniors and Stratton Juniors A are still looking for their first point of the season.

Leading scorers: Oliver Waite (Shrivenham & Watchfield) 9, Joshua Parsons (Ferndale Rodbourne A) 8, Aaron Webb (Stratton Juniors B) 8, Kane Lever (Shaw) 7, Nathan Richens (Stratton Juniors B) 7.

Under 13 Division 2

Ferndale Rodbourne B have now brought forward two of their fixtures and were rewarded on Sunday with top spot in the table after a 12-1 win at Highworth Juniors B.

This lifted them two points above unbeaten Fairford A, although Fairford have three games in hand and currently possess a 100 per cent record from five games. Another side with a perfect record are Lydiard Youth who have three wins from three games. Marlborough Town also remain unbeaten in what looks a very competitive division.

Leading scorers: Liam O'Brien (Fairford) 32, Ben Smith (Old Town United) 19, Jamie Cherry (AFC Swindon) 12, Ufuk Iseri (Old Town United) 10, John Rees (Ferndale Rodbourne B) 10.

Under 12 Division 1

Highworth Juniors A lead the way with a perfect record of six wins from six games. Ferndale Rodbourne, Stratton Juniors and Greenmeadow A are all six points behind the leaders, although Ferndale and Greenmeadow both have a game in hand.

Leading scorers: Nathan Lee (Stratton Juniors) 9, Edward Acott (Ferndale Rodbourne 8, Danny Hale (Highworth Juniors) 8, Alex Henshall (Ferndale Rodbourne) 8.

Under 12 Division 2

Wootton Bassett Town lead the way with a perfect record of six wins from six games and have already opened up a five-point gap over second-placed Liden Community.

At the other end of the table Ramsbury are still searching for their first win, but will be hoping to get something from one of their next three league fixtures.

Leading scorers: Matthew Coote (Malmesbury) 15, Bradley Bancroft (Wootton Bassett Town) 10, Aiden Cressey (Wootton Bassett Town) 10, Charles Buse (Stratton Youth) 10, Ryan Goodchild (Liden Community) 9.

Under 12 Division 3

Marlborough Town lead the way with a 100 per cent record from five games and lead second-placed Ashton Keynes by six points.

Penhill Knights and Old Town United B are struggling at the bottom. Both teams are currently without a win, but will be looking to change that after the half term break.

Leading scorers: Josh Lewis (Marlborough Town) 9, Cameron Hayes (Penhill Allstars) 6, Ryan Riddett (Ashton Keynes) 6, Connor Dettmar (Greenmeadow B) 5, Thomas Mantock (Marlborough Town) 5.

Under 11 North

The division that has seen the most postponed fixtures sees Wootton Bassett Town lead the way with victories in all five of their games.

The only game of the weekend saw Croft Juniors A play host to Robins. Robins took the lead, but Croft Juniors A were ahead by half-time and stayed in the lead for the rest of this open game.

Croft goals were scored by James Tranter (2), Josh Fowler, Sam Park, William Head, Chris Jackson and Luke Murphy. Robins scored through Todd Leister, Jake Carpenter and Liam Moor.

Leading scorers: Nick Buckle (Wootton Bassett Town) 10, Joshua Shama (Wootton Bassett Town) 6, Liam Gallagher (Ferndale Rodbourne) 6, Daniel Dicks (Greenmeadow A) 6.

Under 11 West

Three teams share top spot, Highworth Town, Liden Community and Old Town United all on 10 points, although Highworth have a game in hand and remain unbeaten.

Leading scorers: Jon McDonald (Cricklade Youth) 13, Will Picter (Malmesbury) 9, Harvey Scholes (Highworth Town) 9, Adam Wooley (Old Town United) 8.

Under 11 Central

Four teams remain unbeaten. Tetbury Town head the table with 13 points from five games. Shaw are second on 12 points but have drawn three of their games in what is a very tight division.

Leading scorers: Anthony Hillman (Tetbury Town) 11, Charlie Davies (Tetbury Town) 10, Jake Kitchin (Westbrook) 8, Jake Roffey (Westbrook) 8.

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