Wednesday 22nd August 2018

Royal Wootton Bassett Town will be aiming to book an Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round place for only the fourth time in the club's history this Saturday.

However, to do so they will need to beat Hellenic League Premier Division rivals Lydney Town – a side who Bassett have traditionally found it tough against – in what should be an entertaining preliminary round clash (Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 3pm kick off).

Both teams booked their place in this round with impressive away victories.

While Bassett survived the final twenty-five minutes with ten men to see off Leighton Town thanks to Brad Pagliaroli's solitary first half goal, Lydney defeated AFC Hayes 2-1 courtesy of goals in the 87th and 90th minutes.

That was only Lydney's second ever victory in the FA Cup, and their first since an extra preliminary round replay triumph against Fairford Town in the 2010-11 season.

The opportunity to advance further than ever before in their history will therefore provide added motivation for Saturday's visitors.

Bassett first reached the first qualifying round stage in 2007-08, doing so again in 2010-11 before they advanced a stage further in 2012-13's historic run.

However, despite their greater cup pedigree, Bassett's recent record against Lydney is a mixed one.

Last season the teams drew 1-1 in Gloucestershire before Gio Wrona scored the only goal of the game in the return league encounter.

In 2016-17, Lydney triumphed in both league matches, including a convincing 3-1 triumph at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground. Bassett did prevail 2-0 after extra time when they met in the Floodlit Cup though (a competition Lydney would go on to win after Bassett were forced to replay an earlier round tie in farcical circumstances).

A season earlier, Lydney won both league meetings and another Floodlit Cup tie by a single goal, and in September 2013 defeated Bassett 5-2 in a Hellenic League Challenge Cup fixture.

The initial ten league games between the sides (played between 2006 and 2013 in Hellenic League Division One West) saw Bassett win on three occasions and Lydney emerge victorious five times, while also producing two draws.

Saturday's contest should hence be hard to predict. Both teams have recorded seven points from their opening league games, though Bassett have played a game more. Lydney come into the game on the back of a 3-2 win over Longlevens, though were well beaten by Ascot United at the weekend. Bassett, meanwhile, recovered from their dramatic defeat at Windsor on Saturday by drawing 3-3 with Fairford Town. Sam Collier's team haven't won since defeating Leighton though.

It would therefore be great to see a large crowd at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground.

Admission is £6 for adults and £3 for concessions. Programmes will be available for £1.50.

We look forward to seeing you at the game.

Last modified on Wednesday 22nd August 2018 at 09:37.