Bassett set for Royal appointment

Wednesday 30th September 2015

It's set to be a right royal occasion at Stag Meadow on Saturday as Royal Wootton Bassett Town visit Windsor for an FA Vase second qualifying round clash.

Playing just a mile and a half from Windsor Castle, Bassett, whose name was changed this summer to reflect the town's Royal status, will be aiming to dethrone the side representing the location of Her Majesty's royal residence.

And should they do so, then Bassett will have booked a place in the first round proper of the Vase for only the fourth time, despite having played in the competition in each season since the 2001/02 campaign.

Reaching that stage will require as good a performance as that which took the team past Binfield in a dramatic first qualifying round replay at the beginning of September.

Windsor represent high quality opposition and a very stiff test. While without a win in five and sitting 13th in the Combined Counties League Premier Division as of last weekend, they have finished no lower than sixth in their past four seasons in that division.

They have also had great exposure to Hellenic League opposition in both the Vase and FA Cup during that period. In the Cup they can count on wins against Flackwell Heath, Newbury and Brimscombe and Thrupp, while recent runs in the Vase have seen them defeat Oxford City Nomads, Shrivenham and Binfield.

Their most recent Vase run was halted by Highworth Town at the first round stage, however, with the Worthians triumphing 4-1 on the road.

Only once previously have Bassett encountered Combined Counties League opposition in a national competition, and that resulted in success as Paul Braithwaite's team defeated Cove in a 3-2 thriller in the Vase last year.

They'll be hoping to maintain that 100% record, and reign supreme again on Saturday.

Last modified on Wednesday 30th September 2015 at 13:00.