Royal Wootton Bassett Town were eliminated from the Supplementary Cup as Flackwell Heath scored an 118th minute winner to prevail 2-1 after extra time.

In a dramatic Hellenic League Supplementary Cup tie, Royal Wootton Bassett Town fell to a 2-1 defeat after extra time against Flackwell Heath as the hosts secured victory courtesy of a 118th minute winner.

Bassett performed superbly as they took the Heathens - thankful for an outstanding display from 'keeper Aaron Watkins - all the way. And they arguably did not deserve to lose. Yet Josh Baines produced a fine strike that proved to be the decisive moment on this occasion.

Bassett had taken time to get into the game early on, with Flackwell on top. And Charlie McCready was forced into a number of early saves, while Joshua Samuels and Leius Sinclair both came close, the former spurning a one-on-one opportunity.

The visitors eventually got going though as Brad Pagliaroli narrowly missed the target with a free kick and long range drive and Rob Lincoln saw an effort cleared off the line.

Flackwell then took advantage of Bassett being slow out of the gate as the second half got underway, going ahead on 47 minutes. Baines, Layne and Dwayne Stanford combined well, setting up Sodike Anyadike-Thompson who made no mistake.

It took only five minutes for Bassett to respond though. Following great interplay between man of the match Tony Joyce and Matt Bennett, the ball was worked to Pagliaroli, who curled in from the edge of the box.

Both teams then had chances as they sought a winner in normal time. Anyadike-Thompson blazed over from a counter before Gabriel Da Silva headed over from a corner in the final minute at the other end.

With extra time required, Bassett somehow found an additional gear. In the opening quarter hour, a Pagliaroli free kick was spilled by Watkins before the 'keeper redeemed himself by foiling at the feet of Da Silva. A Pagliaroli solo run then set up TJ Bohane, whose drive was denied by a stunning save.

After the restart, Matt Bennett saw a strike crash off the crossbar and post before Watkins again pulled off an outstanding stop to tip over from Pagliaroli.

Bassett should have been home and dry but the 'keeper's heroics and woodwork had conspired against them.

Baines then delivered the decisive blow with seconds remaining to decide a thrilling tie.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 2nd December 2018 at 11:56