Goalmouth action from Devizes’ 1-0 victory over Corsham, courtesy of John Cuthbertson.

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Boxing Day: In the Premier Division, Bradford Town were handed just their second league defeat of the season, going down 3-1 at home to Melksham Town. The visitors had much the better of the first-half, and led 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Chris Allen and Luke Ballinger. Soon after the interval, Warren Maidment put the result beyond doubt when he added Melksham’s third of the afternoon, before substitute Matt Morris secured a late consolation for Bradford. Odd Down managed to claim a 2-2 draw away at Clevedon Town, with goals from Asa White and Kye Simpson helping them to gain a point after Lucas Vowles had scored twice for the hosts during the first half. In their first away game in over a month, second half goals from Tim Legg and Paolo Borges saw Wellington triumph 2-1 over Bridgwater Town, for whom Jake Llewellyn scored in stoppage time. Cribbs and Hallen were also forced to share the points, after Ben Dowdell’s equaliser cancelled out Oli Morris’ opener during the sides’ 1-1 draw at The Lawns. Bitton claimed their first victory in the month of December, with a brace from Reeko Best, plus goals from Harvey Baker, Tom Knighton and Corey Kelly helping them defeat bottom-side Longwell Green Sports 5-1.

In the First Division, Westbury United moved to within a point of top spot following a 3-1 win away at Warminster Town. In a local derby, played in front of the biggest First Division crowd of the season to date, Ricky Hulbert gave the visitors a dream start when he headed home a Jamie Jordan cross just three minutes in. Westbury doubled their advantage in the 34th minute through Dan Kovacs, before Warminster gained a lifeline in the fixture with their captain Charlie Walton scoring from 25 yards out midway through the second half. Eight minutes later, Westbury regained their two-goal lead when Dan Price scored with a header, and then late on the hosts had player-manager sent off following a sliding tackle to compound their disappointing afternoon. In the highly-anticipated clash at the Southfields Rec, a pair of goals from Morgan Skipp, either side of a Matt Minnis strike, led Radstock Town to a 3-0 victory at home to Welton Rovers. There was also a 3-0 win for Calne Town, with goals from Matt Hudson, Billy Gleed and Stuart Windsor helping them see off Chippenham Park away from home. A first-half header from Matt Russell gave Devizes Town a 1-0 victory away at Corsham Town, while the fixture between Sherborne Town and Wincanton Town at Raleigh Grove ended goalless.

Season

Action from Corsham’s victory over Ashton & Backwell, courtesy of John Cuthbertson.

Premier Division: Luke Bryan struck twice in the final five minutes, as Bitton came from two goals down to claim a dramatic 3-3 draw with Bradford Town. Having fallen behind to Corey Kelly’s opener, Bradford turned the game around following goals either side of the break from Will Haliston and Rickie Scott. Top scorer Sam Jordan then gave the visitors a two-goal lead, which was halved by Bryan six minutes from time, before the same man scored a last-gasp stoppage-time equaliser. Bridgwater Town survived a fifth minute red card to defender David Thorne, defeating Shepton Mallet 1-0 thanks to an early goal from Syd Camper. Bridport will head into 2018 on the back of a well-earned three points, after goals from Mark Salter and Richard Hebditch helped them to claim a 2-0 win away at Wellington. A goal in the opening stages of the second half from defender Alex Cumming saw Chipping Sodbury Town claim a surprise 1-0 win away against Melksham Town for whom Jake Brown hit the post in the early stages. At the Lawns, Brislington came from behind to defeat Cribbs 2-1. The home side hit the front in the 15th minute through Jake Slocombe, with Neikell Plummer claiming an equaliser midway through the second half before Louis Britton completed the turnaround nine minutes from time.

First Division: On Friday evening, Keynsham Town made it six league wins on the bounce tanks to a 5-2 triumph at home to Bishop Sutton. After the division’s top scorer, Matt Brown, put them ahead in the 20th minute, Keynsham were clawed back by a goal just before the break from their visitors. It took Keynsham 20 minutes to go ahead during the second half, with Kyle Box tapping home, and then ten minutes later they extended their lead to two when Matt Curnock got on the end of a fine cross from Brown. Adey Harvey and the prolific Brown added further late goals to complete the victory, before Sutton added a stoppage-time consolation strike from long range. Second-place Westbury United kept up the pressure the following day, with a second-half hat-trick from Dan Kovacs following on from Josh Ferguson’s 12th minute opener during their 4-0 victory at home to Bishops Lydeard. There was also a hat-trick for Chippenham Park’s Ben Pring, with his three goals plus strikes from Lewis McCarron and Garry Lock helping the home side to a 5-1 triumph over Wincanton Town. At Oaklands Park, Ken Oni, Rhys Hodgson, Jordan Yeo and Lewis Wentland all got on the scoresheet during Roman Glass St George’s 4-2 win at home to Cheddar, with Callum Ham and Dan Griffiths scoring for the visitors. Chard Town scored four goals for the third consecutive time at home, scoring twice in either half to defeat Malmesbury Victoria 4-1 at the Dening Sports Field. The hosts found themselves 2-1 up at the break thanks to goals from Max Westlake and Taoufik Ben-Salem, with James Boyland adding a third soon after the interval before Ben-Salem scored his second of the contest in the closing stages. A 40th minute penalty from skipper Leigh Rogers, plus a goal midway through the second half from Tony McElhone saw Corsham Town claim a 2-0 win away at Ashton & Backwell United. At Nursteed Road, Cullen Wylie hit a late equaliser to help Devizes Town claim a 1-1 draw with Almondsbury who had earlier led through Ben Chick.

Sherborne Town 0 Wincanton Town 0First Division – Tuesday 26 th December After much forking and preparation and an 8am start for the club volunteers in readiness for a pitch inspection, the teams ended this Boxing Day derby all square after 90 minutes of toil which produced little in the way of chances but was not short on endeavour writes Kerry Miller.

Sherborne are precariously poised just above Portishead Town at the league basement while Wincanton are safely installed in mid table and the 11.30am kick-off was a good shout for a number of reasons, not least as the clubs sensibly avoided the 1pm slot and with the weather predicted to close in dramatically in the afternoon, all the hard work got the game in and in front of a good crowd at Raleigh Grove.

Marc Caines had the first effort for the Zebras, his falling effort going just over then at the other end Lewis Voizey stabbed wide in Wincanton’s first attack of note. Sherborne could have taken an early lead when Harry Vandervell’s pace took him clear down the right but his shot from a tight angle could not beat Liam Norris and went for a corner, which was missed by all for a goal-kick. Wincanton

Western League StatisticsPREMIER DIVISION LEADING GOAL SCORERS (League only):Gary Higdon, Melksham Town – 18Steve Murray, Street – 15David O’Hare, Street – 15

PREMIER DIVISION TOP ATTENDANCES:Melksham Town 0-1 Chipping Sodbury Town, Saturday 30th December 2017 – 425Melksham Town 3-0 Odd Down, Monday 14th August 2017 – 392Melksham Town 1-0 Clevedon Town, Saturday 4th November 2017 - 377

FIRST DIVISION LEADING GOAL SCORERS (League only):Matt Brown, Keynsham Town – 18James Rustell, Radstock Town – 16Dan Kovacs, Westbury United – 15Adam Jones, Cheddar – 13Ken Oni, Roman Glass St George – 13

FIRST DIVISION TOP ATTENDANCES: Warminster Town 1-3 Westbury United, Tuesday 26th December 2017 - 277Bishops Lydeard 2-3 Cheddar, Sunday 8th October 2017 - 264Welton Rovers 3-1 Keynsham Town, Saturday 7th October 2017 – 247Sherborne Town 0-0 Wincanton Town, Tuesday 26th December 2017 - 241

LEADING SCORERS IN ALL COMPETITIONS:Steve Murray, Street – 21Gary Higdon, Melksham Town – 20Matt Brown, Keynsham Town - 19James Rustell, Radstock Town - 19

Latest Match ReportsAwards Section

League Chairman John Pool presents Bridgwater Town duo Bob Buckingham (Vice Chairman) and Karl Baggaley (Manager) with the Premier Division Team of the Month award for November. Image courtesy of Debbie Gould.

Sherborne Town 0 Wincanton Town 0First Division – Tuesday 26 th December After much forking and preparation and an 8am start for the club volunteers in readiness for a pitch inspection, the teams ended this Boxing Day derby all square after 90 minutes of toil which produced little in the way of chances but was not short on endeavour writes Kerry Miller.

Sherborne are precariously poised just above Portishead Town at the league basement while Wincanton are safely installed in mid table and the 11.30am kick-off was a good shout for a number of reasons, not least as the clubs sensibly avoided the 1pm slot and with the weather predicted to close in dramatically in the afternoon, all the hard work got the game in and in front of a good crowd at Raleigh Grove.

Marc Caines had the first effort for the Zebras, his falling effort going just over then at the other end Lewis Voizey stabbed wide in Wincanton’s first attack of note. Sherborne could have taken an early lead when Harry Vandervell’s pace took him clear down the right but his shot from a tight angle could not beat Liam Norris and went for a corner, which was missed by all for a goal-kick. Wincanton

Keynsham Town 5 Bishop Sutton 2First Division – Friday 29 th December Keynsham Town cemented their place at the top of the Western League Division One on Friday night with a clinical second half display against a youthful Bishop Sutton side who did not deserve such a defeat and scored the two best goals of the evening writes Kerry Miller.

The clubs’ agreement to play on a Friday paid off as almost 200 watched an excellent contest which was all square past the hour mark until Town struck with a defender lying injured in the penalty area and from then on the destination of the three points was never in doubt.

On what was a murky but dry night league leaders Town started well but it was an impressive Bishop Sutton side which had the first chance with home keeper Matt Dunk superbly keeping out a Mason Daggar header. Tauren Williams then placed his cross on the head of Adey Harvey who nodded over before Craig Wilson set up Sam Duggan who went close. Sutton keeper Josh Yakub has an unorthodox method of shot stopping which he demonstrated in keeping out a Duggan shot but he could do nothing as top scorer Matt Brown broke the deadlock on 20 minutes when he flicked home a Duggan shot which was going wide. Sutton’s raids at the time were sporadic with Josh Keen forcing a corner which Adam Crooks almost forced home and the game was picking up pace with Wilson and Duggan going close either side of Jordan Anstey limping off on the half hour mark. Keen then caused some palpitations when his corner was cleared off the line by Kyle Box and as Sutton had the better of the last 20 minutes they levelled through a superb move and deft finish from Chris Hind, who was put through by Daggar.

After the break Dunk pulled off a stunning save from Keen then Kai Long nodded wide from close range as Sutton continued to compete but the Canaries were still looking dangerous and Yakub was forced into another save with his legs as Brown set up Wilson. Keynsham clicked into gear and just past the hour Kyle Box tapped in the second with Sutton’s defender prone in the box then the defence went AWOL for substitute Matt Curnock to net the third. With the visitors unravelling , Harvey drilled home the fourth before Brown scored his second near the final whistle. Fittingly Sam Downes crashed home a 25 yarder deep into injury time for Sutton who played their part in a fine game which was the perfect advertisement for Friday night Western League football.

Among the crowd which was almost double the club’s average, were fans and representatives from many clubs including Clevedon Town, Ashton and Backwell United, Radstock Town, Amesbury Town, Bath City, Hengrove Athletic and Westbury United while out of town visitors arrived from London, Oxford and Redditch. It all added up to a successful night and it is hoped that other member clubs will look at staging Friday night football which has proved to be a hit in other leagues around the country.

Action from Westbury United’s clash with Bishops Lydeard, courtesy of John Pool

Latest ResultsTuesday 26 th December Premier DivisionBradford Town 1-3 Melksham Town 354Bridgwater Town 1-2 Wellington 233Clevedon Town 2-2 Odd Down 79Cribbs 1-1 Hallen 147Longwell Green Sports 1-5 Bitton 276First DivisionChippenham Park 0-3 Calne TownCorsham Town 0-1 Devizes Town 92Radstock Town 3-0 Welton Rovers 216Sherborne Town 0-0 Wincanton Town 241Warminster Town 1-3 Westbury United 277Friday 29 th December First DivisionKeynsham Town 5-2 Bishop Sutton 184Saturday 30 th December Premier DivisionBitton 3-3 Bradford Town 178Cribbs 1-2 Brislington 71Melksham Town 0-1 Chipping Sodbury Town 425Shepton Mallet 0-1 Bridgwater Town 156Wellington 0-2 Bridport 113First DivisionAshton & Backwell United 0-2 Corsham Town 51Chard Town 4-1 Malmesbury Victoria 79Chippenham Park 5-1 Wincanton TownDevizes Town 1-1 Almondsbury 65Roman Glass St George 4-2 Cheddar 65Westbury United 4-0 Bishops Lydeard 77

Be sure to check out the Western League Podcast which recaps all of the games from the Premier Division, First Division and Cup competitions. The latest broadcast can be found on the league’s

official website at the following link: http://www.toolstationleague.com/podcasts.php

Upcoming FixturesWednesday 3 rd January 2018 First DivisionBristol Telephones vs Radstock Town 19:30KOSaturday 6 th January 2018 (KICK OFF AT 3.00PM UNLESS NOTED) FA VaseMelksham Town vs Crowborough AthleticNewport IW vs Bradford Town Premier DivisionBridport vs Bridgwater TownBrislington vs Odd DownBuckland Athletic vs StreetCribbs vs Hengrove AthleticHallen vs Clevedon TownWellington vs Shepton MalletWilland Rovers vs Wells CityFirst DivisionBishop Sutton vs Calne TownBishops Lydeard vs AlmondsburyCheddar vs Warminster TownChippenham Park vs Bristol TelephonesCorsham Town vs Chard TownDevizes Town vs Portishead TownMalmesbury Victoria vs Ashton & Backwell UnitedRadstock Town vs Keynsham TownSherborne Town vs Roman Glass St GeorgeWelton Rovers vs Westbury UnitedWincanton Town vs Oldland AbbotoniansGFA Challenge TrophyBitton vs Chipping Sodbury Town

Action from Sherborne Town’s Boxing Day clash with Wincanton Town, courtesy of John Pool.

League TablesPremier Division

Team P W D L F A GD PTS1 Street 21 17 2 2 54 16 38 532 Bradford Town 21 13 6 2 47 21 26 453 Willand Rovers 18 14 2 2 55 11 44 444 Melksham Town 21 12 5 4 53 21 32 415 Buckland Athletic 19 11 2 6 39 31 8 356 Cribbs 23 9 4 10 49 38 11 317 Clevedon Town 21 8 6 7 32 29 3 308 Bridport 17 9 2 6 38 29 9 299 Bridgwater Town 20 9 2 9 29 26 3 29

10 Shepton Mallet 22 9 2 11 28 31 -3 2911 Bitton 19 7 7 5 31 32 -1 2812 Brislington 23 8 4 11 30 41 -11 2813 Chipping Sodbury Town 21 8 3 10 33 33 0 2714 Odd Down 19 7 5 7 29 26 3 2615 Hengrove Athletic 19 6 5 8 28 25 3 2316 Wellington 21 6 3 12 27 49 -22 2117 Hallen 19 4 5 10 21 39 -18 1718 Cadbury Heath 15 4 4 7 29 44 -15 1619 Wells City 21 3 3 15 19 63 -44 1220 Longwell Green Sports 22 0 2 20 11 77 -66 2

First DivisionTeam P W D L F A GD PTS

1 Keynsham Town 24 16 4 4 72 36 36 522 Westbury United 24 15 6 3 57 16 41 513 Roman Glass St George 23 14 5 4 68 29 39 474 Radstock Town 22 12 4 6 46 31 15 405 Welton Rovers 23 11 7 5 46 31 15 406 Cheddar 21 12 1 8 44 31 13 377 Devizes Town 25 10 7 8 46 42 4 378 Oldland Abbotonians 19 10 3 6 33 25 8 339 Bishop Sutton 23 10 3 10 39 45 -6 33

10 Chard Town 23 9 5 9 41 38 3 3211 Bishops Lydeard 23 10 1 12 39 56 -17 3112 Malmesbury Victoria 21 9 3 9 37 45 -8 3013 Chippenham Park 26 7 9 10 32 44 -12 3014 Bristol Telephones 20 9 2 9 43 40 3 2915 Wincanton Town 22 8 5 9 31 39 -8 2916 Calne Town 23 8 5 10 36 49 -13 2917 Almondsbury 25 7 4 14 32 42 -10 2518 Corsham Town 23 7 4 12 23 39 -16 2519 Warminster Town 24 5 6 13 37 54 -17 2120 Ashton & Backwell United 25 5 6 14 24 45 -21 2121 Sherborne Town 21 4 5 12 31 49 -18 1722 Portishead Town 22 3 5 14 23 54 -31 13*