Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 20 April 2021
Royal Wootton Bassett Town moved to the top of Group Two of the Bluefin Sports Hellenic League Challenge Cup and, more importantly, are within touching distance of booking their place in the competition's knockout stages following a well deserved 3-1 home victory against Brimscombe and Thrupp.
The win moves Bassett onto seven points from their opening three games, a point ahead of Brimscombe who had triumphed in their opening two encounters. The teams will meet again in Gloucestershire on Saturday - and should Sam Collier's side triumph they will be all but guaranteed of a place in the last sixteen.
Playing a first competitive home fixture since early November, Bassett took charge of the contest and were three goals to the good before the hour mark.
The hosts went ahead on 19 minutes after a smart set piece move caught the visitors out. TJ Bohane won a free kick midway into Brimscombe territory, which Sam Ockwell played short to an unmarked Rhys Wells in the right channel. Wells' cross after he had beat his man was flicked on by Matt Berry-Hargreaves and, ever the poacher, Bohane dove low in a crowded six yard box to head past 'keeper Adam Clatworthy.
Another set piece allowed Bassett to double their lead five minutes into the second half. From just inside the Brimscombe half, Ockwell floated an inch perfect delivery over the top of the visitors' defence and from an acute angle Dave Bampton arrowed a stunning volley into the top left corner which Clatworthy was helpless to do anything about.
Five minutes later it was 3-0. Bohane's deep cross from the right picked out Gio Wrona at the left post. This drew the attention of Clatworthy, allowing Wrona to cut back to an unmarked Wells who provided a simple finish from close range.
Brimscombe finally fired into life, although the deficit they were in was always going to be difficult to overcome.
Nevertheless, they put the hosts under a great deal of pressure in the final twenty minutes. And Oli Barnes made things a little more interesting with quarter of an hour remaining, firing home with a first time left foot shot after a crossfield pass had stretched the Bassett defence.
Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Wednesday 21st April 2021 at 10:08
