Oxford Road, 23rd November 2013

It may only have earned a point, but how great Wootton Bassett Town's 1-1 draw away at third place Ardley United felt.

Following five straight single goal defeats, Jeff Roberts' team were desperate to emerge from a rut that had seen them slip into the Hellenic League Premier Division's bottom four.

Sam Collier's last minute penalty ensured their stay down there would last just a week as the draw lifted Bassett above Shrivenham on goal difference.

It was a deserved goal too. For the majority of the second half Bassett had been on top, the gulf in league position between the two teams being extremely difficult to gauge.

Yet for all their pressure, a Bassett goal proved elusive.

Tyler Sheppard was first to come within inches of levelling, striking a left-footed shot inches wide of the post. After an acrobatic Steve Allison save had kept Ardley out following a dangerous counter, Bassett twice found the woodwork. It was the crossbar which denied Ryan Stanners, while Dan Lardner saw a low effort hit the inside of the post and roll across the goal line before being hacked clear.

But just as it appeared as though it would not be Bassett's day, Collier was granted the opportunity to equalise and he made no mistake.

It was the game's second goal from the spot to come moments before the end of a half as Callum Convey's penalty had put the hosts ahead on the stroke of half time following a Kyle Rigley foul.

Playing up the slope, Ardley had the better of the opening period, rattling the bar twice themselves.

But when forced to defend against a Bassett team charging downhill, a level of vulnerability at the back became evident.

And eventually the visitors, leaving it late and to much relief, were able to take advantage of this.

Last modified on Monday 22nd June 2015 at 23:38