Royal Wootton Bassett Town got the better of Purton in their Wiltshire Senior Cup first round tie as Steve Yeardley's 90th minute winner delivered a 3-2 victory.

They may have left it to the last possible moment, but Royal Wootton Bassett Town booked their place in the second round of the Wiltshire Senior Cup eventually.

Steve Yeardley was the player who rose to the occasion, drilling a right foot shot into the back of the net in the game's final minute to ensure an upset against near neighbours Purton was avoided.

A closely fought affair - as local derbies always are - the Hellenic League Division One West outfit from the Red House took the game to their hosts, and even held the lead during the early stages of the second half.

However, Bassett, despite not playing at their best, were able to claw their way back into the game, levelling through Alioune Diouf's close range finish just after the hour mark, before substitute Yeardley provided the winner.

The evening started off well for Bassett, and they were ahead in the game's 27th minute courtesy of Steve Robertson's neat left foot finih.

Yet their advantage lasted all of two minutes, the lively and energetic Joe Hiscock - formerly of Bassett - scoring with a looping header.

And it was another former Bassett player who put Purton in front on the stroke of half time. The home faithful know full well how ruthlessly the skillful and pacey Matt Bennett can punish a defence. And he did just that for the visitors, capitalising on a defensive error to leave Bassett chasing.

Diouf stabbed in to draw the sides level though. Then, with extra time looming, Dale Richards - having appeared to handle - knocked the ball down for Yeardley, who scored for the fifth time against Purton in his Bassett career.

Always a good feeling to put one past a big rival, netting the clincher in the cup certainly made it feel even better.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Thursday 13th October 2016 at 20:39