Royal Wootton Bassett Town Under 18s earned a runners-up finish in the Wiltshire League Floodlit Division in dramatic fashion as they came from behind to defeat Pewsey Vale 2-1 in their final fixture of the season.
Needing a win to make certain that they could not be caught by third place Melksham Town, Bassett endured a nervy opening 45 minutes. While the first half ended goalless, the tension was ratcheted up early in the second period when visitors Pewsey - who had held Nick Warren's side to a 3-3 draw when they met earlier in the season - took the lead, Thomas Holdstock firing in after good build up play down the left.
But Bassett produced the required response. Joey Warren hit a shot into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the box to equalise. Warren then created what turned out to be the winning goal, his powerful run through midfield initiating a move that eventually saw the ball fall to Kevin Prouse on the edge of the six-yard box and the side's leading scorer steered home for his ninth of the season.
The result ensured Bassett did not finish an excellent season empty-handed.
With their 2-0 victory against Radstock Town on Thursday, Devizes Town claimed top spot. And the title ultimately came down to Devizes' 4-0 triumph against Bassett at the end of January - a result that left Bassett needing to win out at the same time as hoping their rivals slipped up elsewhere if they were to finish in first.
Last week's narrow 2-1 defeat away against Calne Town in their penultimate fixture then extinguished those hopes - and also endangered Bassett's chances of finishing second.
Victory against Pewsey was therefore required to ensure Melksham were unable to have the opportunity to pip them as the best of the rest. With the pressure on though, Bassett delivered.
In achieving runners-up spot, the team become the fifth Bassett side to claim Floodlit League honours. Alongside the 2010-11 champions, Bassett previously finished as runners-up in 2005-06, 2011-12 and 2015-16.
Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Friday 25th February 2022 at 16:59
