Brad Pagliaroli's brace helped Royal Wootton Bassett Town overturn a 2-0 half time deficit to defeat Lydney Town 3-2.

A sensational second half performance from Royal Wootton Bassett Town blew away Lydney Town as Sam Collier's side recovered from being 2-0 down after less than twenty minutes to triumph by the odd goal in five on another dramatic evening of football involving these two teams.

On a blustery night, all five goals were scored at the same end. However, it was ultimately the hosts who took better advantage of having the wind behind their backs.

They looked in store for a long evening at first though. After only eight minutes Sam Elliott gave Lydney the lead, as his header, while unmarked, crept in with 'keeper Charlie McGready thinking the ball was headed the other side of the post. The visitors then doubled their advantage when Bassett failed to deal with another free kick and Sam Wines nodded in from Lewis Halford's cross.

Lydney were by far having the better of things and came close again through Wines. As the interval neared, Bassett finally went close when Rob Lincoln almost got on the end of a cross-cum-shot from Brad Pagliaroli at the far post. But Lydney then almost grabbed a third as Wines missed by a matter of inches.

Able to avoid being in an even deeper hole before the break, the home side came out flying once play resumed.

And they found the back of the net in the first minute of the second half as Dale Richards fired home a powerful effort from the edge of the area.

Confidence restored, Bassett were putting Lydney under a huge amount of pressure. Jon Beeden went close as his shot was deflected wide, while Lincoln forced a brilliant save from Ellis Boughton.

Eventually, with twelve minutes to go they were level as Pagliaroli curled one in from eighteen yards.

That was shortly followed by TJ Bohane heading narrowly over. Despite that miss, you could sense that a third was on its way for Bassett.

And that duly arrived through Pagliaroli, who produced another fine strike from the outer limit of the penalty area with seven minutes remaining.

There was still time for more twists and turns and, never a team to make it easy for themselves, the hosts' hard work was almost not rewarded by all three points. The dynamic Ross Gabriel first fizzed a volley over the bar from eighteen yards before the visitors forced a corner late on that wound up being placed narrowly wide of the post.

Victory was finally secured though, a stunning comeback being justly rewarded.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Tuesday 18th September 2018 at 21:58