In recent years Royal Wootton Bassett Town Blue have been knocking on the door of promotion. And a comprehensive 6-0 win at home to Stratton Youth gives further hope that this may be their promotion year following a third successive win and clean sheet.

Manager Martin Jefferies had been forced to make a number of changes following injuries to Ralph Fergusson whose heroic efforts against Kingsdown will see him miss 4-6 weeks with a broken collar bone, while Parker Fisher and Sam Smith were also absent.

Perhaps it was these late changes that led to a lack of cohesion in a lacklustre first half performance. Looking the better side Bassett failed to create significant chances in the first half and held a slender 1-0 lead at the break. The goal came from an excellent Fin Marshall run and the resulting foul gave Bassett a penalty that was well dispatched by Fin Hyde low past the 'keeper.

Matthew Jones nearly added a second with a ferocious right footed drive from distance but there were to be no further goals in the first half.

If the team were unsure of how they had performed in the first half, the manager removed that ambiguity with a robust half time team talk.

Sometimes firm words are required and the team responded with a much improved second half.

Fin Marshall doubled the lead with an excellent finish to the 'keeper's left.

Cameron Iles and the rest of the Bassett defence both battled hard to extinguish any Stratton chances.

Captain Jamie Black added a third with a spectacular lob from distance before Fin Lavender added a fourth from outside the box. Thomas Nicholls then added a fifth as Bassett looked rampant

Nicholls had a second disallowed as he made sure of the finish following a terrific Ed Greenouff run before adding his second and Bassett's sixth/

After the match Jefferies said he was 'pleased with the improvement from the lads in the second half, they reacted well after a disappointing first half'.

Next up is a tough cup game away to Croft Junior Blue.

Credit: Martin Jefferies
Last modified on Tuesday 28th September 2021 at 09:02