Trowbridge Road, 24 August 2022

A near perfect display from Royal Wootton Bassett Town saw them produce arguably their best Hellenic League result in many a year as Sam Collier's side thumped a stunned Bradford Town 5-0 on their own turf.

Bassett were also rans the last time they visited Trowbridge Road, suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat back in January.

This time though they tore to pieces a Bradford team who were heavily fancied to do well ahead of this season and who sat second at the start of play.

Bassett survived an awkward moment early on when Tom Golledge headed against the crossbar for the hosts.

But two goals in quick succession from Alfie Presley midway through the opening period soon set Bassett on their way.

Both arrived in style.

The first saw Matt Bennett pick out Presley with a precise cross and the in-form forward smashed in from outside the area.

Bennett was then key to the second as he surged past his man, before cutting the ball back to Scott Chilcott. The Bassett full back then squared to Presley to send another fizzing shot beyond the reach of Jonny Hill.

Fully in charge at the break, Bassett extended their lead further just before the hour. This time a bit of luck was needed as Bennett sent in a cross that Hill allowed to slip through his legs.

While the 'keeper will have felt a little embarrassed to have shipped such a goal, he would not be the only Bradford player to finish the game with their tail between their legs as the visitors added two more.

Breaking from a Bradford corner that came to nothing, Presley obtained possession on the halfway line before charging at the home defence. After getting to the byline, he crossed into the box for Tommy Ouldridge who, cool as you like, spun and picked out the top corner to finish off a perfectly executed counter attack.

Substitute Josh Elms then rubbed further salt in Bradford's wounds, latching onto a long clearance before bursting past his man and slotting past a helpless Hill.

Despite Bassett going into the game full of confidence on the back of a six game unbeaten run to start their campaign, few would have predicted such an outcome at kick off.

But an unbelievable performance produced a scarcely believable result to make it a magnificent seven without defeat for Collier and his troops.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Thursday 25th August 2022 at 08:39