In 2021, at the height of the pandemic and with the leagues voided, Cricklade Town changed the format of their annual tournament in an effort to give local teams a chance to play some football. The Cricklade Supreme Trophy & Shield was born. The tournament was created by then Cricklade Town Chairman Richard Austen and first team manager Craig Kent (who moved to Melksham Town). BotP got involved by not only covering many of the games, including both finals, but also hosting the tournament fixtures, results and tables on our web site. I think it's fair to say that the tournament was great success and provided some much needed exercise and entertainment during a trying time for everyone. The match blogs from the two finals can be fond here:-Shield Final Stratton United v Swindon AFC (And Smith Did Score) Trophy Final Chesterton v Malmesbury Vics Dev (Fitting Final Finale).
Although Cricklade's reserve team took part in CSTP21, I didn't actually get to visit the club. So after an X poll to decided where I went this weekend, came out in favour of Cricklade Town v Shrewton United, I was finally heading for Stones Lane for a Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division game. Coming into the game, Cricklade were sitting in fifth spot with seven points from four games. Shrewton were six places lower on four points from three games. Cricklade started the day as joint top scorers in the league but also the joint third worst goals against record. There opening four games had finished 3-2, 3-4, 4-4 and 3-1, so no lack of entertainment there. Shrewton had seen ten goals in their opening two games, seven going to United, but their last game was a 0-0 draw at Pewsey Vale that sounds like it didn't have too much in the way of excitement. To quote Shrewton's own X account "Didn’t forget to tweet just nothing happened, hopefully a better second half" and "Boring day to be the admin". You have to admire the honesty.
Cricklade won Division One last season, earning a place back at the top table. Shrewton finished fifth in the Premier League, five points shy of the top three. The last time the two sides played a complete season in the same division was the 2018-19 season and Cricklade did the double over Shrewton, despite finishing 12 points below them in the table. The last league meeting in Cricklade ended 5-1 to the home side.
Both sides had a few changes to their line-ups for today's game. Shrewton had a couple of debutants in goalkeeper
Thomas Lewis and central defender Scott Hassell. However, the bigger changes were for the home team who had five players missing from the derby-day win over Shrivenham, including top scorer Lewis-James Bexon-Shaw.
Although Cricklade's reserve team took part in CSTP21, I didn't actually get to visit the club. So after an X poll to decided where I went this weekend, came out in favour of Cricklade Town v Shrewton United, I was finally heading for Stones Lane for a Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division game. Coming into the game, Cricklade were sitting in fifth spot with seven points from four games. Shrewton were six places lower on four points from three games. Cricklade started the day as joint top scorers in the league but also the joint third worst goals against record. There opening four games had finished 3-2, 3-4, 4-4 and 3-1, so no lack of entertainment there. Shrewton had seen ten goals in their opening two games, seven going to United, but their last game was a 0-0 draw at Pewsey Vale that sounds like it didn't have too much in the way of excitement. To quote Shrewton's own X account "Didn’t forget to tweet just nothing happened, hopefully a better second half" and "Boring day to be the admin". You have to admire the honesty.
Cricklade won Division One last season, earning a place back at the top table. Shrewton finished fifth in the Premier League, five points shy of the top three. The last time the two sides played a complete season in the same division was the 2018-19 season and Cricklade did the double over Shrewton, despite finishing 12 points below them in the table. The last league meeting in Cricklade ended 5-1 to the home side.
Both sides had a few changes to their line-ups for today's game. Shrewton had a couple of debutants in goalkeeper
Thomas Lewis and central defender Scott Hassell. However, the bigger changes were for the home team who had five players missing from the derby-day win over Shrivenham, including top scorer Lewis-James Bexon-Shaw.
Shaw and Perrett challenge for the ball Despite kicking up the slope in the first half, Shrewton quickly began to assert themselves on the game. They also revealed their major threat as early as the third minute. Eddie Perrett's long throw from the left was flicked on and Tom Plank came close to getting his header on target. A few minutes later Dan Baulsom got a strike on target, but was thwarted by a good block by the feet of goalkeeper Harrison Ellis.
It wasn't all one-way. Cricklade did show some intent when Nick Craft burst down the right before drilling over a cross-shot that debutant United keeper, Thomas Lewis, handled with confidence. His opposite number was proving to be the busier of the two stoppers though, making a good save low at the far post to push away Kian Tydeman's diving header following another long throw. Perrett's throws were proving to be more accurate and dangerous than any crosses or corners and Cricklade didn't seem to have a way of defending them.
Craft was still doing his best to generate something at the other end and, just before the water break, he did manage to get the home side's first attempt on target. Once again Lewis was well positioned to make a comfortable stop.
On the half-hour mark the visitors finally make the breakthrough that their overall play had deserved and, of course, it came from a Perrett long throw. Delivered into the mix another debutant, Scott Hassell, got the flick on, and there was Tom Plank to head in at the far post. 0-1. The goal opened the floodgates. A minute later Ellis had to be at his very best to tip Tydeman's dipping free-kick over the bar. However, even the Crick captain was left helpless after 33 minutes when Plank's right-wing corner was met by the head of Hassell, who powered in a debut headed goal. 0-2. Five minutes later it was three. Another Perrett Exocet this time flicked on by Charlie Utterson and met at the back post by Kian Tydeman. 0-3. Three goals in eight minutes for the visitors, who were now well on top.
The third goal did spark some stirring of response from Cricklade. Four minutes before the break Lewis was made to go full-stretch to push away Lewis Shaw's drive. Then, what was looking like the perfect first half for Shrewton was marred slightly in the 44th minute when a long ball caused some miscommunication between the defence and goalkeeper, allowing Lewis Shaw to nip in, round the keeper, and slot the ball into the net. 1-3
HT Cricklade Town 1 Shrewton United 3. Shrewton well on top but will be slightly disappointed to have conceded just before the break. Cricklade have had to work hard just to stay in the game so far, but will the late goal back give them renewed vigour in the second half?
It wasn't all one-way. Cricklade did show some intent when Nick Craft burst down the right before drilling over a cross-shot that debutant United keeper, Thomas Lewis, handled with confidence. His opposite number was proving to be the busier of the two stoppers though, making a good save low at the far post to push away Kian Tydeman's diving header following another long throw. Perrett's throws were proving to be more accurate and dangerous than any crosses or corners and Cricklade didn't seem to have a way of defending them.
Craft was still doing his best to generate something at the other end and, just before the water break, he did manage to get the home side's first attempt on target. Once again Lewis was well positioned to make a comfortable stop.
On the half-hour mark the visitors finally make the breakthrough that their overall play had deserved and, of course, it came from a Perrett long throw. Delivered into the mix another debutant, Scott Hassell, got the flick on, and there was Tom Plank to head in at the far post. 0-1. The goal opened the floodgates. A minute later Ellis had to be at his very best to tip Tydeman's dipping free-kick over the bar. However, even the Crick captain was left helpless after 33 minutes when Plank's right-wing corner was met by the head of Hassell, who powered in a debut headed goal. 0-2. Five minutes later it was three. Another Perrett Exocet this time flicked on by Charlie Utterson and met at the back post by Kian Tydeman. 0-3. Three goals in eight minutes for the visitors, who were now well on top.
The third goal did spark some stirring of response from Cricklade. Four minutes before the break Lewis was made to go full-stretch to push away Lewis Shaw's drive. Then, what was looking like the perfect first half for Shrewton was marred slightly in the 44th minute when a long ball caused some miscommunication between the defence and goalkeeper, allowing Lewis Shaw to nip in, round the keeper, and slot the ball into the net. 1-3
HT Cricklade Town 1 Shrewton United 3. Shrewton well on top but will be slightly disappointed to have conceded just before the break. Cricklade have had to work hard just to stay in the game so far, but will the late goal back give them renewed vigour in the second half?
Tydeman fires in a free-kick If Cricklade had gained confidence from the late goal back, Shrewton looked keen to knock this out of them early on in the second period. Just seven minutes in Jordan Cross sent over a cross that captain Utterson headed narrowly over. However, the stay of execution for Crick was brief. Two minutes later Ellis did very well to save from Utterson but could not do anything about the follow-up from Kian Tydeman, who guided the ball low into the bottom corner. 1-4.
At this stage, you have to say, the game was probably over as a contest. If Crick had got another back early on in the second half, maybe it would have caused some Shrewton jitters. However, restoring the three goal lead and reasserting their dominance, looked to have given the visitors the points. This was further driven home just past the hour. Substitute Sanjay Samuda, who had already looked very lively, drove down the left before squaring perfectly for Tydeman to guide the ball past Ellis again, claiming his hat-trick in the process. 1-5.
Samuda was having fun now. A few minutes later he was very unlucky to see his low strike crash back off Ellis's left-hand upright, as Shrewton went in search of more goals.
Cricklade were offering little in reply but Lewis Shaw did keep Thomas Lewis on his toes, sending an 80th minute effort on target which the United stopper pushed away for a corner, which came to nothing. Then on 86 minutes Sanjay Samuda topped off a flowing Shrewton move by slotting the ball past Ellis once more. 1-6
That left just time for Cricklade's day to be summed up by Jacob Ryan limping off in added time, leaving them with ten men, having no substitutes remaining. A bad day at the office for Crick.
FT Cricklade Town 1 Shrewton United 6. A great result for Shrewton who took the game to their hosts from the first minute. True, Cricklade were disrupted by a lot of changes, but you can't take anything away from the Shrewton performance. They fully deserved all three points. The result sees The Shrews leapfrog Crick into fifth spot. Cricklade slide down to ninth, although the teams are level on points.
Next up for Cricklade is the visit of bottom side Devizes Town Reserves next Saturday. Shrewton are also at home as they welcome last season's runners-up, Letcombe.
Cricklade Town: Ellis(c), Hylton, Ash, Glass, Caybasi, Painter, Craft, Fisher, Cobb, Ryan, Shaw. Subs: Anaisie, Gargett, Hicks, Truchon
Shrewton United: Lewis, Baulsom, Perrett, Hardy, Hassell, Spratt, Cross, Compton, Utterson(c), Plank, Tydeman. Subs: Stimpson, Elshaw, Castle, Sale, Samuda
At this stage, you have to say, the game was probably over as a contest. If Crick had got another back early on in the second half, maybe it would have caused some Shrewton jitters. However, restoring the three goal lead and reasserting their dominance, looked to have given the visitors the points. This was further driven home just past the hour. Substitute Sanjay Samuda, who had already looked very lively, drove down the left before squaring perfectly for Tydeman to guide the ball past Ellis again, claiming his hat-trick in the process. 1-5.
Samuda was having fun now. A few minutes later he was very unlucky to see his low strike crash back off Ellis's left-hand upright, as Shrewton went in search of more goals.
Cricklade were offering little in reply but Lewis Shaw did keep Thomas Lewis on his toes, sending an 80th minute effort on target which the United stopper pushed away for a corner, which came to nothing. Then on 86 minutes Sanjay Samuda topped off a flowing Shrewton move by slotting the ball past Ellis once more. 1-6
That left just time for Cricklade's day to be summed up by Jacob Ryan limping off in added time, leaving them with ten men, having no substitutes remaining. A bad day at the office for Crick.
FT Cricklade Town 1 Shrewton United 6. A great result for Shrewton who took the game to their hosts from the first minute. True, Cricklade were disrupted by a lot of changes, but you can't take anything away from the Shrewton performance. They fully deserved all three points. The result sees The Shrews leapfrog Crick into fifth spot. Cricklade slide down to ninth, although the teams are level on points.
Next up for Cricklade is the visit of bottom side Devizes Town Reserves next Saturday. Shrewton are also at home as they welcome last season's runners-up, Letcombe.
Cricklade Town: Ellis(c), Hylton, Ash, Glass, Caybasi, Painter, Craft, Fisher, Cobb, Ryan, Shaw. Subs: Anaisie, Gargett, Hicks, Truchon
Shrewton United: Lewis, Baulsom, Perrett, Hardy, Hassell, Spratt, Cross, Compton, Utterson(c), Plank, Tydeman. Subs: Stimpson, Elshaw, Castle, Sale, Samuda
Stones Lane
The Ground
Cricklade Town play at Cricklade Leisure Centre on the western outskirts of the town. The football ground is behind the leisure centre building and can be accessed from either side of the main facility. There's ample parking around the ground with additional space on the surrounding roads if necessary. Spectator facilities, such as toilets and a cafe, are all situated in the main leisure centre building. Incidentally, the cafe does a very good sponge cake which helps t fil a gap if you miss lunch (as I had because of the traffic problems on the A420). The football ground has white metal low level barriers around two sides of the playing surface. There are dugouts on the Stones Lane side of the ground, but not covered spectator areas. The pitch slopes slightly back towards the leisure centre end of the ground.
Ground Number: 456
Att: 52
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Cricklade Town play at Cricklade Leisure Centre on the western outskirts of the town. The football ground is behind the leisure centre building and can be accessed from either side of the main facility. There's ample parking around the ground with additional space on the surrounding roads if necessary. Spectator facilities, such as toilets and a cafe, are all situated in the main leisure centre building. Incidentally, the cafe does a very good sponge cake which helps t fil a gap if you miss lunch (as I had because of the traffic problems on the A420). The football ground has white metal low level barriers around two sides of the playing surface. There are dugouts on the Stones Lane side of the ground, but not covered spectator areas. The pitch slopes slightly back towards the leisure centre end of the ground.
Ground Number: 456
Att: 52
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
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