Monday 22nd April 2024

Royal Wootton Bassett Town stand just 90 minutes away from club history as they welcome Cinderford Town for the Hellenic League Premier Division playoff final on Tuesday 30 April (Sustain Stadium, 7.45pm kick off) - with promotion to step four of the non league pyramid on the line.

Admission for the match is £7 for adults, £4 for concessions and £2 for under 16s.

Please note this is an all pay fixture, meaning RWBTFC season ticket holders and youth section members are required to pay for admission.

A win for Sam Collier's side will see Bassett take their place in the Southern League for the first time.

The Foresters, meanwhile, will be seeking to return to a league they spent 27 consecutive seasons in prior to their relegation to the Hellenic League last year.

Will Bassett write history? Or will it be a case of back to the future for Cinderford? Whatever the outcome, it promises to be a tense, drama-filled Tuesday night in north Wiltshire.

There was certainly little between the teams in their two regular season meetings.

In Wiltshire in January the teams played out a frenetic 1-1 draw. Ethan Hughes put Cinderford in front only for Ben Dodd to head home an equaliser for Bassett shortly after. A dramatic ending then saw Cinderford reduced to ten men courtesy of a sin bin before a goalline clearance denied Sam Packer a late winner.

The return fixture at the start of April was then moved to Hereford as Cinderford's ground struggled to cope with the constant spring rain. Another close contest ensued - and ultimately Tommy Ouldridge's late goal gave Bassett victory by the narrowest of margins.

Both teams then advanced in the playoffs with 1-0 away wins in the semi finals - Bassett against Highworth courtesy of Olly Case's headed goal, Cinderford against favourites Corsham Town thanks to a Dale Evans free kick.

Now Bassett and Cinderford meet for a third time this season - and promotion is the prize for the winner.

Last modified on Monday 22nd April 2024 at 01:00.