Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 15 March 2022

Royal Wootton Bassett Town sealed a season double over near neighbours Calne Town courtesy of an Alan Griffin winner ten minutes from time. Just as in the reverse fixture two and a half weeks ago, Sam Collier's side triumphed 2-1 against the Lilywhites in a tense derby battle.

Unlike in that first meeting between the teams though, it was Bassett who actually went ahead. Capping an early spell of dominance, Gio Wrona slid home from close range on the quarter hour mark to give the hosts the lead after Adam Corcoran had headed a John Mills free kick delivery from deep back across the face of goal.

One goal was all that Bassett would yield from that spell though. And Calne would be gifted an equaliser on 30 minutes. Seeking to play a square ball inside from his right back position, Macaulay Dodson's sloppy pass instead fell straight into the feet of Josh Bright. The Calne forward then twisted his way into the box before sending a low left-footed drive into the bottom corner.

Bassett certainly did not begrudge Bright getting a goal. Indeed, it's great to see him back playing at a high level mere months after suffering a cardiac arrest, which led to the rescheduling of this fixture from November to mid-March. That Bright has recovered from such a scary incident is fantastic news - and that news is made even better by the fact he is now back to enjoying playing football.

But Bassett will still be disappointed by the nature of the way in which they conceded.

After the teams went into the break level, the second half proceeded with neither side seeming able to find the magic touch needed to go ahead.

Eventually though, Bassett struck with just over ten minutes remaining. Griffin started and ended the move. The veteran forward flicked an Eddie Cavanagh goal kick on to Alfie Presley before making his way towards the box. In the meantime, Presley fed Tommy Ouldridge with a reverse who in turn advanced into the left channel before setting out wide to Mills. Mills then arrowed a daisycutter of a delivery across the face of goal, and Griffin was on hand at the far post to steer in what ultimately proved to be another match-winning goal.

Calne did come close to equalising again with Charlie Norman heading onto the bar from an inswinging corner deep into stoppage time.

Agonising as that may have been for Calne - who need every last point they can squeeze out of their remaining fixtures to steer clear of being in one of the second from bottom positions that could lead to relegation, for Bassett it came as a relief, preserving a vital three points in their battle for position and a club record points haul in the Hellenic League Premier Division.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Wednesday 16th March 2022 at 09:26