Calne Town
Royal Wootton Bassett TownRWBTFC
Calne Town Logo
1 ‒ 2
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Logo

RWBTFC Scorers:
John Mills, Alfie Presley

Bassett grind out derby win

Bremhill View, 26 February 2022

Royal Wootton Bassett Town's performance may have been one that merited few points for style, but Sam Collier's side ensured they returned to winning ways as goals either side of half time from John Mills and Alfie Presley saw Bassett grind out a 2-1 victory away against local rivals Calne Town.

With their hosts battling for survival in the Hellenic League Premier Division and Bassett's form wavering after frustrating recent results against Hallen and Fairford Town, this was a derby contest that was always set to be a battle. And so it proved as two teams separated by just over ten miles met for the first time in a league fixture since the 1985-86 season.

It was Calne who would strike first blood in the contest as Jamie Walters found a way past Eddie Cavanagh.

And while Bassett were enjoying more of the ball, it appeared as though Calne would take their lead into the break.

That was until the visitors fashioned an equaliser with two minutes remaining in the half. Cutting in from the left side, Mills found himself with room to shoot and his powerful drive from just outside the area picked up a deflection off Jordan Kirk that left home 'keeper Bailey Leach a helpless bystander as the ball flew into the corner of the net.

Bassett then struck what proved to be the winner in the early stages of the second period. As Calne sought to play out from the back, Leach hit a stray pass that fell straight into the feet of Presley, who, from a tricky position, smashed a shot straight back past the 'keeper and into the net.

That goal, Presley's second since returning to the club, proved all that Bassett needed to record their 12th league win of the campaign.

Although the win does not change Bassett's position in the table, results elsewhere means that Bassett can climb two places to eleventh should they win the games in hand over Fairford and Hereford Lads Club that they possess.

The points dropped in the past two games do mean Bassett are playing catch up.

But with six league games left to go, including four home matches - among them the return fixture against Calne, there's still more to play for than just pride.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 26th February 2022 at 17:54

Calne Town
Royal Wootton Bassett TownRWBTFC
Calne Town Logo
1 ‒ 2
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Logo

RWBTFC Scorers:
John Mills, Alfie Presley