U18 ASSISTANT coach Nick Maggs will take charge of Pewsey Vale’s first team next season as manager Lewis Taylor and assistant Craig Wall step back from their posts.

Maggs will work with club captain Ryan Banks as his assistant, with Neil Stephens set to continue as the club’s reserve team boss.

Taylor and Wall made the club aware of their intention to step away from their roles earlier this season, allowing Maggs time to work with them ahead of him taking over.

The club’s committee approved the appointment of Maggs who, with Craig Parsons, has guided the U18s to success in the Wiltshire Floodlit League and who face Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the Nadder Valley Cup final tonight.

Taylor, meanwhile, will continue in his role as the club’s vice-chairman, with Wall also on the committee.

In his penultimate league game in charge, Taylor saw his side beaten 3-0 by Isle of Wight side Cowes Sports, Jordan Browne scoring twice for the home side and Joe Adams netting the other.

Pewsey had beaten Amesbury Town 5-1 last Thursday night.

Tom Ritchie’s pass to Adam Field allowed him to break the deadlock in the 12th minute of the derby.

They doubled their advantage in the 35th minute when a defender slipped and Kane Lever put in a perfect cross for Ricky Franklin to find the net.

A cross by Franklin allowed Michael Martin to curl in the third goal just after the hour mark.

A Martin corner found the head of Ritchie for number four and goalkeeper Richie Payne came to the fore when he saved a penalty from Amesbury’s Harvey Coker.

The fifth goal arrived when Lever turned provider again and fed subsitute Wall to wrap things up for the hosts.

Tom Plant netted a late consolation for Amesbury.

They host Hayling Island in their season’s swansong on Saturday.

Lilywhites bloom at end of season

CALNE Town boss Simon Gardner hopes he can build on the Lilywhies’ hugely positive end to their campaign next season.

Town rounded off an excellent end to their season by swamping Welton Rovers at Bremhill View, their fifth win in seven matches.

Gardner said: “It could have been an end-of-season Mickey Mouse match, but we didn’t want it to end with a whimper.

“The guys took their form from the last few matches into it and they’ve shown that they are good enough to play in this league.

“We’ll try to drag into the club players with a bit of experience, but the lads are quite buoyant.

“Hopefully, the majority of the players we have got will be here.

“After last season’s challenges, where we had to build a new squad, we should start with a solid foundation next season.’’

After a goalless first half, Calne went ahead as Glenn Armstrong fired home a penalty.

Antony Conradi equalised but Calne regained the lead as Mark Dolman’s free kick was met by Jake Jeffries, who poked home.

In the 85th minute, Dolman bent home a strike from the free kick. Slater was then fouled again inside the area and substitute Pete Thornton fired home.

Slater added a fifth in the dying moments.

All’s well that ends well for Trevor’s Town

TREVOR Rawlings hopes to strengthen his Southbank squad over the summer so Town can push on to challenge at the very top of the First Division.

Kieron Gleed’s first goal for the club and Jason Henley wrapped up Corsham’s 2013-14 campaign with victory on Saturday.

Town finished seventh and, after a tough start to the season marked by player losses and injuries, Rawlings was satisfied with that return.

“We were looking to be challenging for that top four but after what happened with unavailability and things like that, we’ve done okay,’’ he said.

“We had a good FA Cup run, which derailed us a bit in the league, but we had a long unbeaten run after Christmas and we weren’t beaten at home in the league after October.

“Hopefully, we’ll keep most of the squad together and we can strengthen it a little bit before trying to push on and perhaps challenge a bit next year.’’

Park prove their worth

DAVE Ferris saluted his squad for their top-half finish in their maiden season at Toolstation League level.

Dan Price scored as Park were beaten in their final match on Saturday, but they will finish in the top ten if Devizes Town fail to win both their final two matches.

Ferris said: “The season as a whole has been fantastic because we had a lot to learn this year.

“Ninety nine per cent of the lads were county league players and the learning curve has been very acute.

“They deserve a glowing tribute for the effort they have put in.’’

Perrin’s pride over finish

DARREN Perrin believes the prospect of a top-five finish for his side this season is “unbelievable.’’

Melksham, winless and bottom after seven games, could finish fifth with a comfortable victory over Buckland Athletic in their final match at home on Saturday.

Perrin’s men also won the Wiltshire Senior Cup by beating first division champions Bradford Town on penalties last week and Perrin said: “The players deserve great credit and so does everybody at the club.

Nick Ridout and Ryan Bennett scored at Gillingham on Tuesday.

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