Sunday 17th June 2018

Next up in our 'Celebrating Success' series, we review Royal Wootton Bassett Town Under 15 Yellow's campaign which saw them narrowly miss out on top spot in North Wilts League Division Three.

North Wilts League Under 15 Division Three Runners-up 2017-18

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Under 15 Yellow lost just twice in the league all season as they finished runners-up in North Wilts League Division Three, just three points behind eventual champions Swindon Supermarine J.

The Yellows had gone undefeated in their opening twelve games of the campaign, but a brief mid-season blip, a run which included an agonising loss by the odd goal in eleven against mid-table Lydiard Youth Black, ultimately extinguished their title hopes.

They opened their campaign by reeling off seven straight victories, beginning with a solid 2-0 home win against Pewsey Vale Youth. Callum Flay then scored a hat-trick as his team saw off FC Abbey Meads Rangers 5-2 before he repeated that feat in a 4-2 victory over Stratton Youth.

Flay remained among the goals, scoring twice in a 3-1 win against FC Abbey Meads and four against Cricklade Youth, a match which also Tom Warren net a hat-trick as Bassett won 9-2.

Their opening meeting with Supermarine saw Bassett triumph convincingly. Jack Timbrell (2), Flay and Kieren Kirby all scored as the eventual league winners were unable to muster a reply.

The win run kept going as Lydiard Youth were beaten 3-2, but Bassett then were held to consecutive draws against Marlborough Youth (2-2) and Pewsey Vale (3-3). Though they still remained top, their lead was cut to two points over Supermarine, who held a game in hand.

A return to winning ways followed though, despite the pressure their nearest rivals were putting them under. A see-saw battle with Stratton Youth was won 4-3, before Noah Beech and Adam Jones scored the only goals of the game at Marlborough. Warren then struck a brace, with Timbrell completing the scoring in a 3-0 victory against Cricklade.

However, in the return fixture with Supermarine, Bassett succumbed to their first defeat, losing 3-1 and two games later they suffered the aforementioned gut-wrenching loss against Lydiard. Supermarine, who were behind on games, were now in pole position.

With four games remaining, Bassett made sure their title rivals could ill-afford to slip up though, defeating fellow high-flyers Ashton Keynes in successive games. Flay scored twice away from home as Bassett won 4-2 before both he and Warren fired braces in a thumping 7-2 triumph in the reverse fixture.

A 2-2 draw against FC Abbey Meads Colts frustrated Bassett, even though it did guarantee runners-up spot. The same opponents were then beaten in style in their final game, with Cameron Wootten scoring three and Warren two in an 8-1 win.

That pulled Bassett level on points with Supermarine, but they were able to claim the points in their last fixture to snatch top spot.

Last modified on Sunday 17th June 2018 at 21:22.