Addison Road, 15 September 2020

Royal Wootton Bassett Town were unable to carry momentum from their upset Emirates FA Cup victory on Saturday into their opening league fixture as Sam Collier's side fell to a 3-1 defeat away against Easington Sports.

Bassett's last league game of the abandoned 2019-20 campaign had been a chastening defeat against Easington - and their belated opening fixture of the new season was the same.

All the goals came in the second half, though Bassett were fortunate not to be behind at the break.

While Gio Wrona and Sam Ockwell both had chances for the visitors, it was the hosts who had the better openings. Indeed, Bassett were indebted to Harrison Ellis for a pair of fine saves - the first to claw the ball back just before it breached the goal line to deny what appeared a certain goal, the second a tip around the post - to keep the scores level.

Easington then spurned a golden opportunity to go ahead when Josh Bowden sent a penalty into the stratosphere following a handball.

But the hosts eventually went ahead two minutes after the restart, Josh Rose heading in from a corner.

It took Bassett until the 70th minute to get back on terms as Wrona found the top corner with a fine left foot shot from the edge of the area.

However, dealing a crucial blow, Easington immediately went down the other end to restore their advantage as Henry Rose guided in a header from a powerful right wing cross.

Mark Francis went close with a shot across goal with ten minutes to go as Bassett's frustrations mounted.

The game was then killed off with three minutes remaining as another cross from the right found Joe Eyre unmarked at the far post and he fired home.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Wednesday 16th September 2020 at 08:22