Royal Wootton Bassett TownRWBTFC
Shrivenham
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Logo
2 ‒ 0
Shrivenham Logo

RWBTFC Scorers:
John Mills (2)

Fog frustrates Bassett

Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 18 January 2022

Two first half John Mills goals and a seemingly commanding advantage going into the game's final quarter of an hour counted for nothing as Royal Wootton Bassett Town's home derby against Shrivenham was abandoned due to fog.

It's the second time in a matter of weeks that Sam Collier's side have been frustrated in their desire to face Shrivenham – a team they are vying to complete a league double over and with which they are jockeying for position in the middle of the Hellenic League Premier Division pack.

Covid cases in the away camp had previously scuppered the prospects of the game being played on 27 December, its original date. Now, after being shoehorned into a midweek slot in mid-January despite requests for a more supporter friendly date to be chosen (the fixture is after all one between local rivals with Bassett having missed out on the above-average gate that a Christmas fixture would certainly have attracted), a new place in the teams' schedules will again have to be found.

When that date eventually arrives – and here's hoping that when it comes there won't be any more issues affecting the ability of the game to be played – Bassett will be aiming to recreate the position they found themselves in prior to the referee halting proceedings.

Bassett's performance had by no means been a perfect one. Indeed, it was rather scruffy and they were fortunate not to have conceded at least once. Yet, a combination of Mills' ruthlessness in front of goal and their visitors' profligacy meant that it was enough to have staked out a clear lead by half time - and one that the hosts did not appear likely to relinquish.

Shrivenham had made the better start on the night, though were unable to make anything of the chances they were able to muster.

With Eddie Cavanagh hesitating to come off his line to collect a hopeful ball over the top, away forward Shane Hibbert had the best early opening as he crept in to lift an attempted lob over the 'keeper, but his effort lacked the required power and direction, allowing Macaulay Dodson to calmly avert the danger.

Bassett did eventually liven up and it took a save with the feet from visiting shotstopper James Foster to keep out a Sam Packer header from John Mills' weighted corner.

Back at the other end, after Bassett failed to clear the lines the experienced Jonny Davoile unlocked the home defence with a perfectly placed through ball for Hibbert. But the forward again fluffed his lines when presented with just Cavanagh to beat, skewing a rushed shot wide of the left post.

Then with eight minutes to go before the break, Bassett were ahead. The goal came out of nothing, but was the product of two moments of quality. First, Adam Corcoran rose on the halfway line to meet a Foster clearance with a powerful header. Placed behind the Shrivenham backline, it was put in a perfect position for Mills to run onto and the forward took one touch before lifting a deft right footed lob over the advancing 'keeper.

The visitors should really have been back on level terms immediately from the restart though. Slack defending allowed the Bassett backline to be beaten by a ball over the top and an unmarked Hibbert was presented with his third golden opportunity of the half. However, he shot straight at Cavanagh from the edge of the box. After the rebound came straight back at him, Hibbert had a second bite at the cherry. This time he cut past the 'keeper, but pressure from Dodson deflected his weak follow up wide of the upright.

Having survived that let off, Bassett soon doubled their advantage. Packer slipped a pass to Mills on the left edge of the box and the forward cut inside his marker before squeezing a powerful low drive from twelve yards between the legs of an unsighted Foster.

By this point of the game, a mist had already descended. But that appeared to have lifted when the teams were back out for the second half.

In front of goal there was little of note after the restart. The most notable action of a scrappy, untidy period occurred when the visitors' manager Dan Broadbank was sent off for his reaction to a firm, but seemingly fair Will Davidson challenge.

The pea souper soon returned and, at least for those watching, it became impossible to tell what was going on. Subsequently, a temporary suspension of play – in the seemingly futile hope that the fog would somehow lift – then became an abandonment with fourteen minutes to go.

The match will therefore have to be replayed. Here's hoping it will be third time lucky when that comes around.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Wednesday 19th January 2022 at 09:01

Royal Wootton Bassett TownRWBTFC
Shrivenham
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Logo
2 ‒ 0
Shrivenham Logo

RWBTFC Scorers:
John Mills (2)