Thursday 28th May 2026

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Women's First Team enjoyed an outstanding 2025-26 season as they claimed the South West Regional Women's Football League Division One North title and also finished as runners-up in the Wiltshire Women's Cup.

South West Regional Women's Football League Division One North champions

Some may think it's a cliche, but Royal Wootton Bassett Town were proof that 'defence wins championships' as they outlasted Corsham Town and Bitton to finish as champions of the 2025-26 South West Regional Women's Football League Division One North.

In their 22 league games Bassett kept an astonishing 14 clean sheets - one more than the number of goals (13) they conceded over the course of the campaign.

That's not to say that Bassett were entirely reliant on their backline for their success. Indeed, they racked up an impressive 61 goals.

But in a tight, exciting title race that went down to the wire, Bassett's defensive strength proved decisive.

Across the course of the season, Bassett won six times by the odd goal - including at home against Downend Flyers in their league opener when Elle Scott scored the only goal of the game.

That victory was the start of a ten game unbeaten run that continued with a 2-0 home triumph against Gloucester City Reserves and 9-0 thrashing of Stockwood Wanderers.

Bassett's first major test then came at home against the previous season's runners-up Bitton, a side who finished a place above Bassett in 2024-25.

But it would be Bassett who struck a first, big blow as Briony Hurd, Maddy Elliott and Lauren Bulley were on target in a convincing 3-1 victory.

Bassett's first dropped points of the season followed though away against newly promoted Mangotsfield United who had made a hot start to their campaign. Bassett had led 2-0 through Elliott and Tori Taylor, but the hosts came back to claim a draw.

A Bulley brace got Bassett back on track in a 2-0 home victory against Paulton Rovers before an Honor Fraser double paced a big 5-0 win against Whitchurch, who - like Mangotsfield- had started life at tier six brightly.

Another Bulley brace sealed a nervy 2-1 win at Downend before Bassett saw in the new year with a tough 1-1 derby draw against Cirencester Town. An 8-0 thrashing of AFC Brislington then made it ten unbeaten heading into a vital home fixture against Corsham.

Despite their start, Bassett entered that game third in the table in a congested five team battle at the top. And they would slip to fourth as two second half goals earned Corsham a smash and grab win.

Bassett bounced back as Taylor grabbed the only goal of the game away at Bath City and Bulley and Laura Jefferies scored to avenge their earlier Corsham loss. Then came a 5-0 win at Brislington.

But a 0-0 draw at Whitchurch, despite extending their run of consecutive clean sheets to four games, did Bassett few favours as they still trailed leaders Corsham by three points with two games in hand to play and had Bitton hitting form.

A 3-0 away win at Gloucester followed as Bulley, Hannah Gulliver and Poppy Wannell found the net.

Bassett's next fixture was then a midweek trip to Bitton - and a crucial fixture went the visitors' way courtesy of a Taylor thunderbolt.

That left Bassett, courtesy of their superior goal difference, more or less needing four wins from their final five games to seal the title.

Bulley and Jefferies sealed a nervous, hard fought 2-0 triumph at home against Mangotsfield to begin the run in on the right foot.

But Bassett then suffered a shock 3-2 reverse away at Stockwood in their next game to finally end a run of seven straight clean sheets and put the pressure on.

At home against Cirencester, Bassett seemed on course to miss out on victory too. They trailed before going down to ten players. Briony Hurd equalised though and Megan Young snatched a late winner.

Victory by the odd goal in five at home against Bath in their penultimate game - coupled with a draw between Bitton and Corsham - then put Bassett on the brink with their destiny in their own hands.

A win away at Paulton in their final game would seal top spot - and Bassett delivered in style. Kelly Nightingale and top scorer Bulley found the net in the first half before Scott produced a second half hat trick in a title clinching 5-0 thrashing.

Bassett's outstanding season had got the big reward it deserved.

Wiltshire County Women's Cup Runners-Up

To go along with their league title, Bassett also reached the final of the Wiltshire Women's Cup for the fifth time in the club's history.

Bassett would have to settle for runners-up though (for the fourth time in the competition) after suffering a 7-0 defeat to big favourites Swindon Town in the final.

Bassett's path to the final saw them rack up the goals.

Maddy Elliott scored five, while six other scorers netted, in an 11-1 home win against Calne Town in the second round.

That set up a quarter final date with Highworth Town - and Bassett would again hit double figures, this time without reply in an 11-0 victory. Lauren Bulley hit a hat trick while Kat Bach and Emma Sykes backed her up with braces.

Bassett would then face Highworth again in the semi finals - this time in the form of their talented Under 18s team. Again drawn at home, a trio of braces from Elliott, Briony Hurd and Tori Taylor booked a final place.

Facing a Swindon side who themselves would finish as league champions in the tier four FA Women's National League Division One South West, Bassett were always going to be up against it. And so proved. Despite giving a decent account of themselves, Bassett were well beaten as Swindon went 6-0 up in the first half before adding a further goal after the restart to continue their dominance of the competition.

Last modified on Thursday 28th May 2026 at 14:25.