Royal Wootton Bassett Town drew for the third time this season as they were held 1-1 at home by Tuffley Rovers
Royal Wootton Bassett Town were forced to settle for a point by Tuffley Rovers after a Callum Parsons opener was cancelled out by Lewis Bainbridge's cross-cum-shot in a scrappy midweek contest at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground.
The result means Sam Collier's side remain in single figures in terms of points collected in the Hellenic League Premier Division this season. However, they continue to head in the right direction and are slowly edging their way back towards a congested mid-table.
They started brightly against Tuffley and took the lead on twelve minutes. Gio Wrona whipped in a low free kick and, among a crowd of bodies, the veteran Parsons was there to head home from close range for his tenth of the season.
However, Bassett's lead would not last particularly long. Tuffley's equaliser did arrive in rather fortuitous circumstances for the visitors, but it would prove enough for a point as, midway through the period Bainbridge swung in a delivery that evaded everyone in the box, including 'keeper Declan Lehmann and into the top corner.
After being pegged back, the hosts sought to restore their lead before the break but spurned a fine opportunity when TJ Bohane struck wide with a first time effort after latching onto Aaron Oakley's weighted pass in behind the Tuffley defence.
They had an early opening shortly after the restart as visiting defender Isaac Lawrence was forced to get his body in the way of a Callum Parsons shot to keep it off target. At the other end, Jake Rhodes curled narrowly over from a free kick.
Bassett then had the ball in the net after the visitors conceded possession sloppily deep inside their own half. However, the assistant referee had raised his flag to rule out a Bohane goal.
With time winding down, substitute Brad Pagliaroli, making his return after a frustrating injury layoff, forced a timely block from Luke Merchant after wriggling free and opening up a shooting opportunity.
A late chance fell Tuffley's way too, a scramble in the box seeing Jeremiah Idowu, Adam Bloomfield and Dominik Kent all having a bite at the cherry but failing to convert.
In the end, neither side was capable of finding the decisive breakthrough.
With six of their next nine games on home turf, Bassett will be hoping that this draw, on the back of victory at Ardley ten days ago, is the beginning of a positive run of results. A good performance will be needed to maintain that though when Binfield visit on Saturday.
Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Tuesday 22nd October 2019 at 22:39
