Monday 23rd October 2017

Royal Wootton Bassett Town will hit the road in the FA Vase second round as they will face Horndean, while they will host Trowbridge Town in the same round of the Wiltshire Senior Cup.

FA Vase

Bassett's reward for Saturday's 2-1, come-from-behind win against Ampthill Town is a trip to Dorset to take on high quality Wessex League Premier Division opposition.

The tie will take place on Saturday 11th November.

Bassett have historically found it tough against Wessex League opponents in national competitions. Thirteen ties across the Vase and FA Cup have seen them win on just two occasions, with eleven losses – three of which came after replays.

They suffered defeat against Wessex League opponents on the only other occasion they reached the second round of the Vase, losing 4-0 away at Wimborne Town in 2008-09.

Horndean, who progressed with a hard-fought 1-0 away win at league rivals Portland United on Tuesday, are well established in the Wessex Premier, and are now in their seventh consecutive season of step five football.

They came sixth last season, having achieved a fifth place finish in 2015-16 – their best ever league performance.

The Deans, based just north of Portsmouth, had their best run in the Vase in 2012-13 when they reached the third round. That year they saw off Melksham Town, Christchurch and Willand Rovers before falling to a 5-0 loss against Bemerton Heath Harlequins. Two seasons later they reached the second round where they were defeated 1-0 by Ascot United.

Their most recent experience of Hellenic League opponents came in the FA Cup earlier this season when they defeated Binfield 3-0 in a preliminary round replay after holding the Moles to a 1-1 draw in Berkshire. In the round before that, they defeated Bassett's Wiltshire rivals Melksham 2-1.

Horndean have enjoyed a fantastic start to their league campaign, and sit fourth after twelve games with a record of nine wins, one draw and two defeats from twelve games.

Wiltshire Senior Cup

After defeating Cricklade Town 3-1 in the first round, Bassett will against face Wiltshire League opposition in the last 16 when they entertain Trowbridge Town.

Trowbridge – Bassett's former Hellenic League Division One West foes – currently sit eleventh in the league with two wins, five draws and six defeats from their opening thirteen games.

Despite being seven times winners of the Senior Cup – their last title came in 2003-04 when they beat Corsham Town on penalties in the final - they will go into the game as outsiders, though Bassett will again have to be on their guard if they are to avoid being upset.

Trowbridge were eliminated in the first round last season, but were quarter finalists just two seasons ago.

They received a bye in the opening round of this year's competition.

Last modified on Wednesday 25th October 2017 at 20:56.