A Monday night thriller ended in defeat for Royal Wootton Bassett Town as they were beaten 4-3 by Reading City.
Royal Wootton Bassett Town came up on the wrong end of a seven-goal thriller away against Reading City as their miserable form away from home in the Hellenic League Premier Division continued.
Despite twice leading, Bassett wound up losing 4-3 and remain the only team in the division not to have triumphed on their travels so far this season. In fact, Bassett have picked up just two points from seven trips away from the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground this season, with two more tough away days next up on their schedule.
Their trip to Berkshire had started off perfectly. While Matt Carr in the Reading goal pulled off saves from Rob Lincoln and TJ Bohane early on, he could do nothing to deny Carl Evans, who slotted in from close range following a Nick Stanley pass with just over quarter of an hour gone.
That lead was cancelled out in the opening minute of the second period though as Sal Abubukar beat the offside trap and made no mistake.
After Reading had a goal disallowed for offside and Gio Wrona forced a save from Carr, the visitors went ahead as Abubukar produced an outstanding finish to record his second of the game.
That goal had been coming. But Bassett re-grouped and themselves got back on level terms when Matt Bennett found the net following a superb Rob Linconl pass.
Four minutes later, Carr upended Bohane in the box and the forward made no mistake from the spot to put the visitors back on top.
However, that lead would last only nine minutes. And Austin Best restored parity in sublime style, firing in from all of thirty-five yards.
A grandstand finish, in which both teams chased a winner, was in store.
But, much to Bassett's frustration, it would be Reading who recorded the decisive goal, Adam Cashin-Murray steering in after a cut back from the right with six minutes remaining.
One final chance did fall Bassett's way, but Carr, producing another top drawer save, was equal to Bennett's drive.
Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Monday 5th November 2018 at 21:57
