Royal Wootton Bassett TownRWBTFC
Longlevens
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Logo
4 ‒ 3
Longlevens Logo

RWBTFC Scorers:
Will Davidson, Bailey Gallagher, Tommy Ouldridge, Chris Taylor

Bassett outlast Levens to break top half hoodoo

Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 4 December 2021

Royal Wootton Bassett Town finally registered a victory against a side in the top half of the Hellenic League Premier Division as they edged out Longlevens in a thrilling seven goal encounter at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground.

In a wide open, back and forth contest that featured three changes of lead, Bassett eventually wound up on top as four different scorers found the net.

It certainly was not a game that either defence will look back on with too much pride. But, at least for the neutral, it offered cracking entertainment on a frigid December afternoon.

The tone of the game was set in the opening quarter of an hour when both sides registered - and were also perhaps frustrated not to have scored more than one.

After Matt Bennett had squandered a one-on-one opportunity on six minutes, the forward redeemed himself by playing an importantly role in the hosts' opener shortly after. Following an incisive counter the forward raced toward goal only to see his attempted square ball to an unmarked John Mills blocked. Bailey Gallagher was there to pick up the pieces though. And he passed to Mills who shuffled a square pass to Tommy Ouldridge on the right edge of the box which the winger fired into the top left corner with an unstoppable drive.

Bassett's lead did not last long though. From the kick off Longlevens proceeded to win a corner. Delivered by Shaun O'Connor, the set piece was met at the near post by Rudi McKinnon, who placed a firm header beyond Eddie Cavanagh.

Both sides subsequently fashioned numerous chances from which they came close to grabbing the lead.

Seeming more fluent in attack, the visitors appeared to edge matters, with the dangerous Brad Martin first forcing Cavanagh to parry before firing narrowly over after a last ditch tackle had prevent McKinnon from netting his second.

At the other end, Mills floated in a free kick that Will Davidson steered narrowly over before the forward crashed a set piece that appeared destined for the top corner off the bar.

It was then Longlevens' turn to find the woodwork as O'Connor's thirty yard drive rattled the bar.

Despite the myriad opportunities being created, it appeared as though the teams were set to go into the interval all square. Especially so after Bassett were denied a seemingly stonewall penalty when Ouldridge was tripped in the box on the stroke of half time.

But, launching a swift counter as Bassett appealed in vain, the visitors edged in front. McKinnon was denied, but the loose ball broke for James Sunley who tapped in.

However once play resumed it did not take long for Bassett to restore parity. Having survived a scare when an unmarked Dave Merrick dragged wide, the hosts quickly went up the other end where Chris Taylor's deft through ball unlocked the Longlevens defence and Gallagher coolly slotted home.

Bassett then went ahead for the second time on the hour. Mills swung in a sumptuous free kick from deep on the left side and defender Davidson was on hand at the far post to stab home a first time effort.

Again, it did not take long for a lead to evaporate. With 65 minutes on the clock O'Connor poked forward a seeming innocuous pass. It fell to the tricky Sunley and after a give-and-go with Merrick on the edge of the box he provided the simplest of finishes for his second of the afternoon.

As quickly as that goal arrived though, another followed. And it proved to be the decisive strike. Michael Miller hoisted a ball forward into the Longlevens penalty area and Bennett was unceremoniously bumped to the ground by 'keeper Kane Winman. This time there could be no doubts about it being a penalty and the veteran Chris Taylor held his nerve, picking out the bottom left corner.

A quarter of the game still remained and on the basis of what had come before it was still anyone's guess as to how this topsy-turvy encounter would finish.

Indeed both sides were intent on grabbing another goal.

Bassett felt they were denied a clear chance at a fifth when Bennett was hauled down by last defender Ollie Long on the edge of the box. It seemed like a clear foul that would have merited the Longlevens man a red card - but not even a free kick was given.

At the other ends, a half cleared corner fell for O'Connor who forced Cavanagh to parry away. Then with ten minutes remaining Sunley came within a matter of inches from completing a hat trick as he headed narrowly wide from a Long cross.

That would prove to be the last real opportunity of the match as Bassett held on for an important, hard-earned league win.

Man of the Match: John Mills - the forward may not have got on the scoresheet (although he was a matter of inches away from doing so), but he was an important factor in Bassett's win, providing two crucial assists. The set piece delivery for Will Davidson's goal in particular was sublime.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 4th December 2021 at 23:17

Royal Wootton Bassett TownRWBTFC
Longlevens
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Logo
4 ‒ 3
Longlevens Logo

RWBTFC Scorers:
Will Davidson, Bailey Gallagher, Tommy Ouldridge, Chris Taylor