Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 27 February 2022

Despite playing with home advantage for the first time in seven weeks, Royal Wootton Bassett Town Ladies were unable to snap out of their second half skid as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against South West Regional Women's Football League Premier Division title chasers Torquay United.

Bassett weren't helped by the fact the fact late withdrawals due to illness and injury left them facing their opponents with a bare eleven. And although they put up a good fight against opponents who had beaten them 5-0 in Devon just a fortnight ago, Torquay proved too strong.

The visitors led 2-0 at half time courtesy of goals from Tracey Cross and Beth Everson. Ellie Bishop then gave Torquay an unassailable 3-0 in the second half, with Libby Davies' 35th league goal of the campaign proving no more than a consolation goal.

The result continues a run that has seen Bassett collect just four points from the seven games they have played since the turn of the year. That record stands in stark contrast to the haul of points collected from their opening nine league matches, which had seen Bassett seemingly put themselves in the mix for one of the top placings in the division.

Two games now remain in which Bassett will aim to finish on a high. And there remains the opportunity for the young team to have a say in the title race when AFC St Austell - another of the four sides battling it out for top spot - visit Wiltshire next week.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 27th February 2022 at 18:02