Sunday 5th July 2015

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Veterans fell short in their winner takes third battle against Swindon Centurions, losing the final Wiltshire Veterans Summer League game of the season 4-0. That result meant the side wound up finishing fifth.

The team had got off to a tough start. Pitted against HM Veterans – champions in each of the competition's two previous editions - in their opening fixture on May 31st, Bassett fell to 4-2 defeat as Drew Youngsam's pair of goals proved not to be enough. That outcome was an improvement on their two fixtures against their opponents though, which ended in 6-1 and 5-0 defeats.

Progressively, Bassett improved. Their second fixture saw them take on KMLC and, in what proved to be a thriller, another Youngsam brace and Simon Jones strike earned a point as the teams shared six goals.

There was a large bump in the road in their third fixture as CJ Marlborough romped to a 7-0 triumph. Although reeling from that heavy defeat, the Veterans bounced back in style with a dramatic come from behind victory to defeat Chippenham Yard Dogs by the odd goal in five.

Two early Yard Dogs goals indicated that a repeat of the Marlborough thrashing was potentially on the cards as the team struggled to make any impact of their own in the opening period. However, a change in formation and tactics inspired a second half comeback. Jeff Tidy halved the deficit before Youngsam levelled. Then, in the final minute, Youngsam grabbed the winner.

Bassett made it two come from behind victories in a row with a well earned 3-1 triumph against FC Chippenham in their penultimate fixture. Trailing at the break, a Steve Howse header got Bassett back on level terms. Howse then put his side ahead from the penalty spot before top scorer Youngsam sealed the points with a solo effort.

That result meant Bassett's final game against Swindon Centurions, who they defeated 3-2 last season, would decide who finished third. But against a younger and fitter side, the Veterans failed to conjure the performance and result needed to jump from fifth place.

Youngsam, who finished with seven goals, earned both Manager's and Players' Player of the Season awards for the team.

Full results for the team are as follows:

Results

31st May – v HM Veterans - L 2-4 (Scorer: Drew Youngsam 2)
7th June – v KMLC - D 3-3 (Scorers: Drew Youngsam 2, Simon Jones)
28th June – v CJ Marlborough – L 0-7
5th July – v Chippenham Yard Dogs – W 3-2 (Scorers: Drew Youngsam 2, Jeff Tidy)
26th July - v FC Chippenham - W 3-1 (Scorers: Steve Howse 2, Drew Youngsam)
9th August - v Swindon Centurions - L 0-4