Following the recent withdrawal of The Lodge FC from the Gooding Accounts sponsored Trowbridge & District League, First Division, it leaves just 8 teams battling it out for honours. Although the loss of both The Lodge FC and Trowbridge Town Reserves have been somewhat of a blow to the league, it is hoped that later in the season an extra cup competition can be introduced to extend the season for the First Division sides.
STRICKLAND STRIKES WINNER FOR DEVIZES
Warminster Town Reserves FC 0 FC Devizes United 1
Warminster Town Reserves who started the week as Division One leaders were the biggest losers following the withdrawal of The Lodge, Warminster who beat Lodge 7-1 on the opening day, lost the points gained from that win and couple with a 1-0 home loss to FC Devizes United saw the Weymouth Street side tumble down the standing to fifth place.
The only goal of a closely thought contest being scored by Charlie Strickland in the second half.
Seend United FC 7 Frome Collegians Reserves FC 0
REYNOLDS MAKES HIS MARK FOR SEEND
Andy Dyer’s Seend United FC side are the new Division One leaders following their 7-0 triumph away at an out of sorts Frome Collegians Reserves side who have struggled to get going since they moved from the Mid Somerset League at the end of last season.
Despite their 2-0 loss to Bradford Town Reserves, Seend have been in fine form and in their latest win Mark Reynolds was on fire for the villagers, scoring 4 of the seven goals on his season’s debut.
Reynolds opened the scoring for Seend, Charlie Waylen made 2-0 and they were 3-0 up at the interval courtesy of a Rich Hudson effort.
After the break Reynolds, bagged goals four, five and six to claim his 4-timer before Matt Purdy completed the scoring with his first goal of the season.
Melksham Town Development FC 2 Heytesbury & Codford FC 2
CONTROVERSIAL MATCH ENDS ALL SQUARE
Melksham Town Development and Heytesbury & Codford met at Oakfield Stadium, Melksham and after 90 and somewhat controversial minutes the points ended up being shared, following a 2-2 draw in a game that Heytesbury led 2-0 and keep Sam Spratt saved two Melksham penalties.
Bradley Edwards goal gave Heytesbury a slender half time lead, Ben Howlett setting him up on 11 minutes to fire ho
me through a crowded area from 18 yards, however things could have been different had Spratt not saved Olly Clarke’s 18th minute penalty.
Liam Gibbens added a second for Heytesbury wit ha simple tap in on 55 minutes and that looked as if it would help the champions to victory. Melksham staged a revival and halved the deficit on 68 minutes, Spratt saved another penalty, this time from Callum Thorburn, however on this occasion Thorburn assisted by two teammates followed up to tuck the ball home.
With Heytesbury struggling with injuries, they were dealt a cruel blow as confusion about the use of rolling substitutes meant they had to reintroduce the injured Louis Cole who was later sent off when frustration got the better of him.
Melksham also finished the game with 10 players after Tom Tanner saw red late on, but by then the hosts who thanks to a third penalty of the after, this time converted with no problems by Morgan Akerman on 81 minutes had earned Melksham their shared of the points.
Fixtures For Saturday 9th September 2023
Bradford Town Reserves v FC Devizes United; Frome Collegians Reserves v Bromham FC; Melksham Town Development v Warminster Town Reserves; Seend United v Heytesbury & Codford FC. Matches Kick-Off @ 3.00pm unless stated otherwise.