County Ground, 8 January 2022

Royal Wootton Bassett Town's winless start to 2022 continued as they fell to a 1-0 defeat away against Hereford Lads Club. Both sides produced plenty of chances throughout an open match. But the lack of a clinical edge ultimately proved costly for Bassett as Will Loughman struck the decisive goal for the hosts with fifteen minutes remaining.

The result marked the first time this season that Sam Collier's side have tasted defeat against one of the sides currently situated in the bottom half of the Hellenic League Premier Division, with Lads Club exacting revenge for a 3-1 reverse in Wiltshire earlier in the season.

That much was full of incident. And while the return encounter may have lacked the same level of drama that initial fixture produced, there was again plenty of intrigue.

In the opening period there was action early and often at both ends, though the interval was eventually reached without either side breaking the deadlock.

Jordan Burke had Lads Club's first opportunity, firing a free kick straight at Eddie Cavanagh before Bailey Gallagher saw an effort deflected wide shortly after for the visitors.

Cavanagh was then again tested from a free kick. The 'keeper did well to parry Jamie Cuthberston's shot, with Levi Ellis unable to find the target with the rebound. Kiea Cowley-Hair was next up to come close as he guided narrowly over.

Bassett were the side who finished the half strongest though. On the half hour mark, Gallagher was denied by an important Cuthbertson block after being released by a clever John Mills reverse pass. Ten minutes later a Mills free kick was parried by home custodian Steven Bell, before the 'keeper denied the returning Sam Packer's side low shot. Finally, with time winding down Dave Bampton guided a header from a Will Davidson cross inches wide of the post.

The visitors did have the ball in the net shortly after the restart, but an offside flag ruled out what would have been a Mills goal.

The pendulum then swung back in the hosts favour, but still a goal was not forthcoming as Will Loughman found the side netting and Cavanagh was equal to an Ellis shot.

Back at the other end, substitute Alan Griffin volleyed against the bar as a well-worked set piece saw Gio Wrona play a short free kick to Gallagher, whose fine cross picked out the veteran forward.

It was very much a game in which all three outcomes were a clear possibility. But Lads Club proceeded to strike what would ultimately be the decisive blow a quarter of an hour from time.

After racing onto a pass into the right channel, Ellis swung a low cross into the box and Loughman was able to get himself in between Cavanagh and Macaulay Dodson, with the forward stretching out his left foot to steer in first time at the near post.

That was a sucker blow to Bassett. And although Griffin headed narrowly over from a Dodson cross not long after his side went behind, it was Lads Club who looked likeliest to add a second as they sought to take advantage of the visitors' desperate attempts to get on terms.

Indeed, Lads Club had the ball in the net twice more in the closing minutes, only to see a pair of strikes from Tom Bendall disallowed for offside.

There was one further opportunity for Bassett as Packer cut back for Griffin, but the forward lifted his effort over from an advantageous position.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 8th January 2022 at 17:32