Mundy Playing Fields, 5 February 2022

A dominant second half display helped Royal Wootton Bassett Town to their biggest league victory of the season as Sam Collier's side thumped Thornbury Town 5-0.

Overcoming the elements on a wet and windy afternoon, as well as opponents who had won three in a row in the league, Bassett climbed a place to 13th in the Hellenic League Premier Division and - most importantly - kept pace with Hereford Lads Club and Fairford Town, the two sides immediately above, who Bassett can overtake if they win the games in hand they hold over both.

Bassett started on the front foot against Thornbury and were rewarded with an early lead as Sam Packer mopped up the rebound after a flowing move involving Chris Taylor, Bailey Gallagher and John Mills had seen the latter's shot parried by McKenzie Welsh.

The early pressure continued, with Tommy Ouldridge coming close to adding a second as he shot narrowly over.

Thornbury gradually grew into the contest though and the final twenty minutes of the opening period proved to be an even, albeit scrappy affair. During that time, the hosts had the best opportunity in front of goal as Marcus Wormwell struck narrowly over after a driving run.

Come half time, it was still therefore anyone's game, with Bassett holding on to the slenderest of the advantages.

However, that state of affairs didn't last long after the restart as Bassett proceeded to dominate the second period.

A hint of things to come, Ouldridge was unfortunate not to double his side's lead shortly after the restart as he was denied by a fingertip Welsh save.

But the home 'keeper was helpless to deny Gallagher moments later as the winger cut inside, beat two defenders and fired home from the edge of the area.

That left Thornbury with a bigger hole to dig themselves out of - and the home side's task was made even harder when Jack Sheppard-Cozens picked up a second yellow card, forcing the hosts to play the final half hour shorthanded.

Bassett quickly took full advantage of the extra man as Mills whipped in a brilliant free kick that evaded all except Packer, who volleyed home at the far post for his second of the afternoon.

The favour was then returned as Packer threaded a ball through to Mills, who coolly finished beyond Welsh to make it four.

By this stage, Bassett were all over Thornbury and it was a question as to how many goals Collier's side would rack up.

Packer almost had a hat trick, but another Mills free kick was just out of reach as he attempted a diving header, while Mills sent another set piece narrowly over.

The inevitable fifth eventually arrived with ten minutes remaining. Man of the match Taylor - whose non-stop performance in the heart of midfield had set the tone throughout the match - wrestled away possession in the centre circle and split the defence with a perfectly placed pass that substitute Alfie Presley, making an arcing run, raced onto before beating defender Joe Guest and slotting into the bottom corner.

Thornbury should probably have had the opportunity to claim a late, undeserved consolation but, adding insult to injury, referee Andrew Bower decided against penalising Macauley Dodson for a late lunge in the box.

Bassett could even have added further to their margin of victory, but for the third time during the match Ouldridge narrowly missed out on adding his name to the scoresheet as he lifted a shot inches over after latching onto a delicate Mills pass.

Having made a flying start to February, the task now is to carry the momentum from this contest into the three remaining contests - all winnable on paper - that Bassett face this month.

Achieve that, and come March and April Bassett could even find themselves in with a chance of sneaking into the top half come the season's end.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 5th February 2022 at 17:49