Thursday 5th June 2025
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Under 18s enjoyed an outstanding 2024-25 North Wilts League Division Two campaign.
A free-scoring side, in their 22 league matches Bassett lost just once and scored fewer than three goals in only three games. Yet they were forced to settle for runners-up spot after a narrow 3-2 final day defeat against Marlborough Youth, allowing Croft Junior Blue to claim the title by a three point margin.
Bassett's goalscoring prowess was on display from the start of the season as they racked up 50 goals in their opening six matches.
Their first game came against Croft and a ten-goal thriller ended 5-5 - an early sign that both teams would be hard to separate. George Knight and Callum Luckhurst then both scored hat tricks in a 10-0 thrashing of FC Abbey Meads Grey before a more routine 3-0 win against Wroughton Youth White.
A visit to Ashton Keynes saw Bassett return to double figures, Luckhurst scoring three and seven other players netting in a 13-0 triumph. Six players were then on target in a 9-2 home victory against Fairford Youth White before Knight grabbed another hat trick as Bassett beat Wroughton Blue 10-0.
After being awarded victory against Stratton Juniors, a dozen unanswered goals secured victory away at FC Abbey Meads Grey with hat tricks for Knight and Ollie Berry.
Bassett seemed an unstoppable force. But they would drop points in their final match before the Christmas break, drawing 3-3 at Wroughton White.
Nevertheless Bassett went into the new year top of the league, three points clear of South Cerney (who had played two games more) and six ahead of Wroughton White. Behind on games having played three fewer, Croft were in fourth and faced a seven point deficit.
Bassett then recorded five consecutive wins to kick off 2025.
Luckhurst, Leon Hudson and Alfie Sammon all scored twice as Stratton Juniors were beaten 10-0. A Parker brace led the way in a 4-0 home win against Marlborough. The same player then scored a hat trick as Wroughton Blue were seen off 5-0.
Bassett's run of clean sheets may have ended away at Draycott FC Inferno, but a Knight hat trick helped clinch an 8-2 victory. Knight then struck four in a 5-1 thrashing of Ferndale Rodbourne.
Bassett remained seven points clear of Croft having played three games more and were ten ahead of South Cerney. Barring a dramatic collapse, Bassett were therefore all but set for a top two finish. It was now a question of duking it out with Croft for the title.
The two would meet next - and if Bassett won they would be in charge of their own destiny. A 1-1 draw meant it was as things were though, Parker scoring for Bassett.
Another tough fixture followed away at South Cerney, but Juan Saloutis and Ollie Smith scored to earn a 2-0 win. Leading lights Knight (4) and Parker (2) then led the way in a 10-2 thrashing of Draycott Inferno before five scorers earned a 6-2 victory in the reverse fixture against South Cerney.
Slightly nervy wins away at Fairford (3-1) and Ferndale (4-2) followed before Bassett were awarded victory in their penultimate game with Ashton Keynes.
Croft still had two games in hand to play, but a draw against Wroughton White meant if both sides won their remaining games they would finish level on points.
However, Bassett would succumb to defeat against Marlborough with Croft edging out Wroughton White 2-1 on the same day. A 5-0 win against Wroughton Blue in their final game then secured Croft the title.
It was a heartbreaking way to end the campaign for Bassett. But they can take pride from the fact an outstanding season ended with honours.
Scoring more than 120 goals in total - with Knight (33), Parker (25) and Luckhurst (16) reaching double figures in the league, Bassett were a ruthless attacking machine.
Last modified on Thursday 5th June 2025 at 17:22.
