Seven-goal thriller as Lilywhites open with a win

Calne Town Ladies beat Purton Kingsdown 4–3 in a dramatic season opener.

Following their postponement against Salisbury on opening day, Calne Town Ladies finally kicked off their 2026/27 Wiltshire Women's Premier League campaign by beating Purton Kingsdown 4–3 in a seven-goal thriller at a wet and rainy Beversbrook.

First half

The visitors started the brighter, with a couple of long shots well saved by Saville in the Calne goal. Issy Satchell had a shot against the run of play that went just wide, and the visitors thought they had taken the lead on 15 minutes but for a superb goal-line clearance by Megan Hamill. Purton finally did take the lead after 20 minutes, a tap-in following a well-worked move on the right-hand side.

The Lilywhites then started playing some terrific football. Megg Haylor-Godwin's shot just missed, and the equaliser came on 28 minutes as Izzy Barbieri's shot from close range went into the net. The home team took the lead seven minutes later after being awarded a penalty for handball — Haylor-Godwin duly stood up and slotted the ball past the Purton keeper. The Lilywhites extended their lead just before half time as Satchell latched onto a superb through ball by Barbieri to put Calne 3–1 up at the break.

Second half

Both teams played good football in the second half as changes were made, and Calne further extended their lead on 67 minutes with the goal of the match: Haylor-Godwin trapped the ball on the left-hand side, just on the penalty area, and curled it into the right-hand corner of the Purton goal to complete her brace.

After a five-minute break for an injury to a Purton player, the away team were resurgent and scored twice in five minutes to make it 4–3. The visitors searched for an equaliser in a dramatic final five minutes, but resolute defending by the Lilywhites gave Calne all three points.