Saturday 18th May 2019

It was a hugely successful North Wilts League Cup finals weekend for Royal Wootton Bassett Town as the Under 15 Blue and Under 18 Blue teams triumphed.

A dramatic Under 15 Cup final saw Bassett defeat Swindon Supermarine J 4-2 after extra time. Bassett twice took the lead courtesy of goals from Harry Farrow and Otis Lewis - with the latter scoring what appeared to be the match winner - only for Supermarine to come back and equalise. Bassett held their never in extra time though, with strikes from Howard Evans and Kevin Prouse settling the tie.

Later in the afternoon, the Under 18 Blues defeated Stratton Juniors Pumas 3-0. All three goals came in the second as Charlie McCuish grabbed a brace and George Staten added his team's third. Bassett's margin of victory could have been even greater, but the woodwork denied them on three occasions.

The results meant both teams added much deserved silverware to cap off excellent seasons. The Under 15 Blues were also Division One runners-up, while the Under 18 Blues were Division One and Wiltshire Youth Cup runners-up.

Match reports from both games are below.

Under 15 Blues seal extra time triumph in final thriller

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Under 15 Blue scored twice in extra time to win the North Wilts League Cup as they defeated Swindon Supermarine J 4-2 in a thrilling final.

Bassett led twice in normal time - including, briefly, in the game's final minute - only for their valiant opponents to equalise twice. However, Supermarine failed to find a reply to the two vital goals Bassett mustered during extra time.

Bassett took an early eleventh minute lead courtesy of Harry Farrow's goal. And they held that advantage until half time following a tense opening period.

Supermarine equalised shortly after the restart though and from then on it was anyway's game.

Bassett thought they had won it when Otis Lewis found the net in the game's final minute.

Yet Supermarine again came back, finding a dramatic stoppage time leveller to force an extra twenty minutes of football.

Having come so close to sealing the cup only to see those hopes dashed, many a team would have gone into extra time with their confidence shot.

That did not happen to Bassett though.

After re-grouping, they went ahead for the third time in the game thank to a Howard Evans goal.

Top scorer Kevin Prouse then settled the tie, shooting low under the Supermarine 'keeper after getting in behind the defence.

Under 18 Blues pounce on Pumas to lift North Wilts Cup

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Under 18 Blue proved too strong for Stratton Juniors Pumas as they secured the North Wilts League Cup with a comfortable 3-0 victory at the County Ground.

Charlie McCuish scored twice and George Staten chipped in with his team's third, with all three Bassett goals coming in the second half.

Bassett could have been in a commanding lead at half time, but were twice denied by the crossbar.

Staten was the first to hit the woodwork, doing so on 37 minutes, before Daniel Hopper somehow contrived to find the bar with a volley from just three yards out.

Stratton had played some good football in the opening period. But it was Bassett who were clearly in control of the match - and that continued following the restart.

Tom Phillips went close early in the second half with a shot from the edge of the box that went just over.

A minute later, Bassett were ahead, McCuish firing in after good set-up play involving Staten.

Chances kept on falling Bassett's way as before the hour McCuish and Staten were denied by a pair of fine saves from the Stratton 'keeper.

Finally though, they were able to double their lead, Staten bursting into the box before teeing up McCuish for his second.

It should have been a hat-trick for the forward following more fine play from Staten, but his weak shot went straight into the 'keeper's arms.

Staten then added his team's third to make certain of victory. It came shortly after he had hit the crossbar for a second time in the game. On this occasion, his initial header was saved, but the midfielder was able to head put away the rebound.

Ultimately, the margin of victory could have been a lot greater for Bassett. But they were deserved cup winners to conclude an outstanding season which has also seen them finish runners-up in North Wilts League Division One and the Wiltshire Youth Cup.

Last modified on Saturday 18th May 2019 at 20:50.