DEVIZES LOOK FOR SUNDAY CUP UPSET
FC Devizes United will make the short trip to Melksham Town’s, Oakfield Stadium of Sunday morning bidding to follow in the footsteps of Castle Combe FC, Shaw & Whitley Hibs, FC Jager, Biddestone Social, four time winners, Corsham Centre and the great Southwick United side who in 1977 were the first team from the League to savour Wiltshire Sunday Cup success.
Standing in the way of Devizes becoming the first from the Chippenham & Bath Football League (CBFL) to the lift the prestigious Wiltshire Sunday Cup since FC Lacock did so in 2022 when they defeated Swindon Sunday League outfit DPR FC 3-0 are the current holders Tidworth Town Youth (Adults) FC, who ply their trade in the Andover & District Sunday League.
In recent times Tidworth have won the competition in three of the last four season’s, so will be massive favourites to take the title yet again.
James Stobart will know that and hope that his FC Devizes United side will be at their very best when they face a Tidworth outfit who are still in the hunt for a possible 5 pieces of silverware this season. Devizes themselves remain in the hunt for four trophies, which are the Premier Division title, Knockout Cup and Senior Subsidiary Cup.
Tidworth’s route to the final began with a 7-1 victory away at CBFL side Warminster Athletic, a 9-0 home success over Forest Renegades followed and they completed a hat trick of victories over CBFL teams when they beat Division one winners Fox & Hounds (Warminster) 9-0. Next was a quarter final showdown with Swindon Sunday League outfit FC Walcot who crashed out 4-1 on penalties after 90 minutes had ended 1-1. A semi-final meeting with Old Town Athletic saw a Jake Connor goal give them a 1-0 triumph away at the Swindon based side.
FC Devizes United who reached the semi-final stage in 2022 before losing out to DPR FC 13-12 after an incredible 30 penalty shoot out, began their cup run with a walkover against the George Hotel Amesbury. A 3-1 victory over Salisbury Sunday League side Avon Valley FC saw them set up an all Chippenham & Bath League clash with fellow top flight side Corsham Pavao who they beat 6-3. A 7-0 victory over Halfway House in the quarter-finals saw them ease into the last four where they met Swindon League, First division, FDC United who were tipped to get the better of Devizes, but an excellent performance from James Stobart’s team saw them coast to a 6-2 triumph.
Tidwoth who have only lost just 3 once times all season will start the final as favourites, but FC Devizes United have the players capable of causing an upset and if the likes of Oscar Webster, Kieron Gleed and Jamie Walters can produce the goods in front of goal they will be looking for an excellent display from their defence to keep the Salisbury based hotshots who are led by the likes of Gerwyn Griffiths, Justin Bennett, George Higgins and Robbie Owen at bay, but with 22 different scorers, Devizes will face a tough task, but should they keep the strikers out they then need to beat keeper Dan Harrision who has 8 clean sheets to his name.
The match has all the makings of being a classic and hopefully come Sunday afternoon, FC Devizes United will be holding the Wiltshire Sunday Cup aloft.
The match at Melksham Town’s Oakfield Stadium kicks off at 10.30am.