August Bank Holiday Monday saw myself along with Grassroots Football Live travelling to Nursteed Road for the Hellenic League Wiltshire Derby between Devizes Town and Calne Town.
Devizes have recently been promoted back to Step 5 football after failing to avoid relegation from the Western League a little over a year ago. Devizes gained promotion from the Wiltshire Senior League last season after a close battle with Trowbridge Town who despite the winning the league couldn't go up due their ground not meeting the League requirements.
It's been a mixed bag for Devizes in their first few games in the Hellenic League, winning their three opening games and now on a run of four straight defeats.
Conversely, Calne Town gained promotion to the Hellenic Premier Division based on their results of the curtailed 19/20 and 20/21 seasons before being relegated back to Hellenic Division 1 after finishing second from bottom in the 21/22 season. They too however have been struggling with only 1 win from 6 games going into this encounter!
A competitive game and a good crowd was expected for this one and neither disappointed! No less than 534 were in attendance, an extremely impressive number for this level!
Calne looked fired up and took the lead early on. Devizes hit back soon after though with the goal of the game, a 25 yard volley that nestled in the top right corner!
With it all square at one a piece it was all to play for in the second half. It would be Calne who would up their game even more in the second half scoring two more to run out 3-1 winners. Devizes created and had their chances, but unfortunately failed to finish them. An entertaining game witnessed by a great crowd!