FC Calne and Castle Combe Colts U11 players line up for a joint team photograph as part of Football Remembers week, the FA initiative that marks 100 years since the Christmas Truce of 1914

The Whites’ North Wilts League campaign resumed in a very similar vein to the way they left it a Supermarine more than a month ago – with a 5-1 away defeat that saw almost all of the damage done in the second half.
Colts can have few complaints about the outcome as collective heads went down following a couple of setbacks and a hungry FC Calne side took full advantage to run out comfortable victors.
The hosts were first to the majority of the loose balls, there was simply not enough movement or options available when Colts did have it and they were second-best in the tackle far too often.
Yet the visitors were in the driving seat at the interval thanks to a brilliant individual goal from Matthew, who collected the ball just inside the Calne have and slalomed his way through the heart of the defence before planting the ball past the keeper.
He almost added a second on the stroke of half-time after George was cut down as he raced clean through. The resulting free-kick was some distance out but Matthew’s effort sailed over the wall and the keeper before bouncing down off the underside of the bar, with Callum just unable to force it over the line.
Earlier, the Colts’ goal had led a charmed life as a first-minute collision between Tom and Luke S forced a reshuffle at the back and Max made a couple of fine stops behind a stretched defence.
At the other end, Brandon M’s determination saw him break through a couple of times without finding the finish to match. Luke V’s direct play caused problems on both flanks and Brandon H held the ball up well for the supporting midfielders.
With Toby and Matthew linking up well in midfield, Colts pushed again at the start of the second half but then Calne were awarded a penalty after a foul inside the box and it changed the complexion of the match.
Max got a hand to the spot-kick but it proved too powerful and he was beaten again soon afterwards after a Calne midfielder was allowed to race through some non-existent tackling to give his side the lead for the first time.
Matthew then took a nasty blow to the ribs in the Calne half and Colts were handed a harsh lesson in playing to the whistle as the game continued. With the boys in black and white standing like statues, the home side broke swiftly were presented with another simple finish.
As Luke S attempted to prompt a response from central midfield, more good pressure on the Colts defence from the Calne attack forced another mistake and led to a fourth goal, with the fifth arriving in soft fashion via the last kick of the game.
Max had done well to keep the score down between the latter two goals, saving brilliantly twice with his feet, and cannot be faulted for his efforts between the posts.
Likewise, while Tom and Bradley were rather disheartened by the final scoreline they found themselves outnumbered by the Calne attack on a number of occasions and worked hard to stem the flow of chances. Both used possession sensibly and would have been helped by better defensive play further up the field.
The defeat was undoubtedly tough to take but Colts know they have not done themselves justice in either league encounter with Calne this season – despite edging the home fixture – and will look to show what they can do when the sides meet again in the Wiltshire County Cup in January.
MOM: Matthew.