Weekend Preview – Saturday 4th May 2024
The Don travel to Westbury Utd’s Platinum Hyundai Park to face fourth positioned Bratton FC in their penultimate Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Division One tie of the season. Kick off in this promotion clash is 15:00. Directions to the ground can be found here.
Bratton have had a hard run in to their season, with a number of midweek ties following their terrific run in the Wiltshire County Cup, reaching the final before succumbing to defeat at the final hurdle. This, along with the inclement weather we have all experienced has seen them playing catch-up to the other promotion hopefuls. Whilst The Don have had a week to recuperate after last Saturday’s 1-0 home victory over Marlborough Town, Bratton played the same opposition on Tuesday evening and came home form Elcot Lane with a 1-1 away draw.
The two sides met at Tucker Park in February when the The Don inflicted one of Bratton’s five league defeats, when Matty Pill and Jamie Broadfield hit doubles in a 4-2 victory. The tie was a physical but fair challenge from both sides and nothing less is expected tomorrow as well. Along with those five defeats, Bratton have picked up fifteen victories and three draw’s so far from their twenty-three league games, scoring seventy-four and conceding thirty four. With an eight point deficit behind The Don in third and second placed Purton FC, they will need a victory to keep their promotion hopes alive.
Bratton will cause a threat to The Don defensive organisation with a number of players in with a shout of their club league golden boot. Jack Booth leads the way with fourteen from nineteen games, matched by Drew Adams, whilst Max Bishop has twelve from eighteen and Joseph Moloney has notched eleven from seventeen. They are also bolstered with the debut at Marlborough of forward Ben Starr who has played Southern League football with Westbury Utd this season.
A win for Town will confirm their promotion spot and take the league title chase to the final game of the season on Monday, when we take on Kingsdown Devs at Tucker Park. The Don will be missing Josh Forth and Liam Hares for the tie (Holiday) and will be hoping Matt Pill is available after the birth of his first child on Monday (Congratulations Pilly & Sarah), however striker Morgan Watts is available again.
The Don Squad From: Jack Gibson, Harry Timbrell, Sam Leech, Luke Smith, Ray Lovell, Mitch Coombes, George James, Jamie Tuck, Matt Pill, Jamie Broadfield, Kyle Bowyer, Luke Davenport, Peter Fletcher, Adam Rudman, Peter Fletcher, Morgan Watts.
You can view the full league table here.
The Don are sponsored by (Home Shirt) The Snooty Mehmaan, The Advertiser Magazine & Pickpackplus & (Away Shirt) www.webbgardenpower.co.uk, www.greenworkstools.co.uk & www.thehandy.co.uk and we thank them for their continued support.
Fourth placed Town Devs were due to to be in Hartwell sponsored Witney & District League Division Two action on Saturday, with third placed Wootton Sports the visitors to Tucker Park.
Unfortunately, the visitors are unable to raise a side for the game and therefore, Town Devs will receive the three points and close the gap on Sports in the table. We thank them for their early confirmation of their decision to forfeit the tie.
Your can view the full league table here.
Town Dev’s kindly sponsored by J Godfrey & Son Funeral Services & Las Chicas Faringdon, their support is amazing and we can’t thank them enough.
The A Team are at Tucker Park on Saturday in a Hartwell sponsored Witney & District League Division Three tie, with Sherborne Harriers the visitors, kick off is at 14:15.
Town A were unfortunate to come away from Stonesfield Reserves last Saturday with a 4-3 defeat, when goals from John Curtis, Nick Loveridge and Chris Rutt were in vain. Sitting in twelfth position, this is their penultimate tie as well and will be looking to finish on a high. Ninth placed Harriers have gained nine victories so far this season and will be a stern test for Ben Stratford’s squad. In the reverse fixture in November, Sherborne ran out 8-3 victors despite strikes from Paul Eaton, Chris Homer and Louis Hegarty.
If you can’t make the journey to Westbury, please get along to Tucker Park and support the A’s!
Town A’s a have been lucky to have had the support and sponsorship from Wessex Recovery, another trusted partner of FTFC.
