The Ridings, 13 August 2022

A deflected Jack Hobson-McVeigh free kick salvaged a late point for ten-man Royal Wootton Bassett Town away against Chipping Sodbury Town as Sam Collier's side just about managed to maintain their unbeaten start to the 2022-23 season.

It was a largely undeserved draw though following a poor performance that was a vast contrast to that which saw Bassett impressively beat Windsor in an FA Cup replay on Tuesday evening.

Stifling temperatures exceeding 30 degrees and a dry, bumpy pitch did make things difficult, but neither served as a valid excuse for a display that at best could be described as uninspired.

The hosts – third from bottom last season – were competitive and motivated, but lacked any real quality. And if Bassett are to enjoy a successful league campaign this year, then they really do need to be beating the likes of Chipping Sodbury. On this afternoon though, they were lucky to avoid returning to Wiltshire empty-handed.

Neither side adjusted particularly well to the conditions and, understandably given the heat, sought not to expend too much energy early on. In Bassett's case, however, energy was lacking for the entirety of the opening period.

Opportunities in front of goal were few and far between. For the hosts, Zak Robinson and Jordan Badman produced headers from a pair of free kicks that failed to locate the target.

At the other end, Alfie Presley struck wide after intercepting a misplaced pass while an unmarked Bailey Gallagher flicked a header wide from a Presley delivery.

A relatively nondescript half thus appeared destined to end goalless. But slack stoppage time defending enabled Chipping Sodbury to open the scoring.

The hosts earned a corner after the tricky Mario Mateus controlled a diagonal ball, cut inside Macaulay Dodson and saw a tight angled shot deflected wide off Dave Bampton.

The resulting delivery from Keane Ashwood was initially headed away by Kai Robinson into the right channel, but was easily recycled after Presley was caught napping and failed to track back. The ball into the box found Ashwood again and he teed up defender Dan Dyke, who steered a delicate, controlled shot into the top right corner.

As impressive as the finish was, the goal was a sloppy one for Bassett to concede, and put the visitors – on an afternoon when they were far off their best – in the unenvious position of having to chase the game after the restart.

And Bassett almost found themselves 2-0 down early on as Mateus squared for Jordan Lawrence, whose low drive flashed just wide of the left post.

Tommy Ouldridge did force home 'keeper Bailey Leach to save at his feet. But it was Chipping Sodbury who were making most of the early running in the second half – and Bassett breathed another sigh of relief when Bampton swept clear after Ibrahima Diallo's fizzing low pass into the box was just out of the reach of Ashwood and squirmed between the legs of Matt Crowther.

Bassett's struggles to create anything of note at the other end continued, though Matt Bennett headed over from a Gallagher cross with quarter of an hour remaining.

And as time wound down, the visitors' hopes of getting something from the game took a blow when Dodson was sent off for a second bookable offence.

But, with 89 minutes on the clock, parity was restored as Hobson-McVeigh's powerful 25-yard free kick was deflected in off the head of Ashwood.

Having played their get out of jail free card, Bassett were then almost instantly gifted a second when Presley intercepted a poor goal kick and crossed for an unmarked Bennett, but the second half substitute dragged wide from ten yards out.

Given the need for water breaks, there was still time remaining and Bassett rode their luck towards the end of stoppage time as Lawrence surged forward before seeing a firm drive parried wide at the near post before Harry Ayres shot into the hands of Crowther with a free kick right on the edge of the area.

Fortunate to claim a point, Bassett will need to be much better if they're undefeated start is to continue at home against a seemingly improved Thornbury Town side on Tuesday.

Man of the match: Jack Hobson-McVeigh – brought on just before the hour mark, the New Zealander injected some much-needed energy into the midfield and produced a fine free kick to rescue his side.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 13th August 2022 at 19:48