Two in-form teams met at Cricklade Leisure Centre where Cricklade Town's visitors were Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development.

Cricklade came into the game having won four of their opening five fixtures, whilst Bassett were unbeaten in the opening five games, also having won four.

Neither side really created much in the opening 25 minutes as both sides quickly shut the other down and it was something of a scrappy affair.

However, the game came into life on 27 minutes when Bassett's Dave Bampton, who was making his debut, hit a shot from outside the box which was turned over the bar one-handed by Cricklade keeper Max Scholefield.

The resulting corner saw the ball played in low into the Cricklade six-yard box and the defence failed to deal with it allowing Tyler Sheppard to scramble the ball over the line.

It remained 1-0 at the break.

The second half continued in a similar vein to the opening 45 and it was not until the hour mark before there was a real chance on goal, Bassett's Manuel Mesas getting behind the Cricklade defence, but he shot straight at Scholefield.

George Lance then found himself in space on the edge of the Cricklade box but fired his shot well over the bar.

Cricklade had a chance to get back on level terms moments later when a ball over the top was completely miskicked by the visitor's goalkeeper Adam House but luckily for him George Drewitt was covering behind to clear the lines.

At the other end Sheppard went close to scoring his second but shot wide of the far post after getting behind the Cricklade defence.

Cricklade's best chance then came on 65 minutes. Substitute Will Backhouse dispossessed Ben Brown and set up Jason Tatum on the edge of the six-yard box but his shot at point blank range was saved by House and the follow-up shot was also well saved by the keeper, who more than redeemed himself for his earlier miskick.

The visitors went close twice to extending their lead, first through Sheppard who, when clean through, fired wide of the left-hand post and then substitute Michael Gilder, who was through one-on-one with Scholefield and the keeper won the duel, saving with his feet. From the resulting corner Drewitt headed over when unchallenged.

The visitors nearly came to rue those missed chances when Backhouse got behind the Bassett defence but saw his shot hit the outside of the post and go for a goal kick.

Backhouse's afternoon had been eventful since his introduction but, having been booked soon after coming on for a rash challenge, he picked up a second yellow for a similar challenge and was sent off, effectively ending the home side's chances.

Bassett saw out the closing minutes to win 1-0 and extend their unbeaten run to six games and move second in the table, two points behind leaders Wroughton.

Credit: Mark Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 11th October 2020 at 13:30