The Meadow, 19 September 2020

Royal Wootton Bassett Town recorded their first point of the season thanks to a hard earned point in a 1-1 draw away against Brimscombe and Thrupp.

Never an easy place to go, Sam Collier's side found themselves ahead at the break following a tight first half of football. However, Brimscombe equalised from a set piece midway through the second period and were then largely on top for the remainder of a tense affair.

The opening period was rather cagey as both teams had to adapt to what was a red hot afternoon.

It was Bassett though who created the better opportunities before half time. Midway through the period, debutant Rhys Wells unleashed a powerful twenty yard effort that home 'keeper Nick Jones acrobatically tipped over the bar. Tommy Ouldridge, another player making his first Bassett appearance, then steered a delicate lob narrowly over after latching onto Sam Ockwell's through ball.

The visitors were then rewarded for their efforts on 41 minutes as Gio Wrona teased in a free kick, which Alfie Presley, sliding in at the far post, steered home.

Brimscombe would equalise shortly after the hour mark though as an unmarked Jack Bartman headed home from a free kick. Defending from set pieces was Bassett's Achilles' heel for much of last season and it has again proven a weakness so far this campaign.

Bassett found themselves under pressure for the remainder of the game, but Brimscombe were unable to convert that into clear cut chances.

And the best opening either team mustered before full time fell to Bassett when Presley found himself one-on-one with Jones in the last minute but he slid his shot wide of the post.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 20th September 2020 at 13:08