Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 26 March 2022
Royal Wootton Bassett Town scored three unanswered second half goals as they kicked off their Bluefin Sports Hellenic League Challenge Cup campaign with a comfortable 3-0 second round home derby triumph against Shrivenham.
Khedive McIntosh scored twice, while John Mills completed the scoring (in the process edging himself closer to Alan Griffin in the battle for the Bassett golden boot), as Sam Collier's side set up a testing third round tie against Wiltshire rivals Bradford Town.
That contest will again be at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground on Tuesday 5 April, with Bassett aiming to reap the benefits of having home advantage as they did in this match against Shrivenham.
The first half had been a cagey, relatively even affair, though Bassett did look the more threatening with Mills twice going close.
However, Bassett took control of the match after the restart.
The deadlock was broken eight minutes into the second half as McIntosh broke free of his marker and guided home a John Mills corner with a controlled first time finish from close range.
The same player doubled Bassett's lead on 70 minutes. Receiving the ball in the right corner after Alfie Presley flicked on a clearance from 'keeper Eddie Cavanagh, youngster James Johnson drove to the byline before delivering a towering cross which an onrushing McIntosh met with another fine first time, side foot volley at the far post that had the beating of visiting shotstopper Matthew Crowther.
Combining an excellent cross and a difficult finish, it was an outstanding goal.
The scoring was then completed with ten minutes to go. Mills got in between 'keeper and defender to bring down a diagonal ball over the top. There was still plenty for the forward to do though, but he jinked past Crowther and another defender before producing a cool finish into the bottom corner with the outside of his boot.
Whether Bassett can match - or even better - last year's run that took the team to the semi finals of this competition is a tough ask. But this win certainly meant that Collier and his team made a good start.
Bring on Bradford.
Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 27th March 2022 at 10:42
