Sustain Stadium, Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 6 September 2022

Royal Wootton Bassett Town's wretched record against Wantage Town continued as the Alfredians came from 2-0 down to triumph 3-2 in a game in which they seemingly had no right to claim a point, let alone all three.

Bassett were fully in charge after Alfie Presley's early penalty - scored after he had been felled in the box - and Bailey Gallagher's headed goal from a Gio Wrona corner.

Yet, somehow Bassett contrived to come away empty-handed.

Sam Collier's side had more than enough chances to have the game sewn up well before its conclusion. But wasteful finishing and an inspired display from visiting 'keeper James Foster ensured the lead Bassett held was ultimately not enough.

Between the two goals they scored, Presley forced a great save from Foster who then denied Josh Elms. The resulting corner l fell to Presley on the edge of the box, but his effort was kept out by another spectacular Foster save.

Then on the stroke of half time Elms could only find the bar when presented with the goal at his mercy.

Those near misses were almost forgiven when Gallagher was brought down in the box ten minutes into the second half. Presley again stepped up to take the spot kick but Foster, salvaging another lifeline for his side, managed to save.

That proved to be the turning point.

Within two minutes Wantage pulled a goal back as Kyle Chester swept home a rebound effort after Matt Crowther could only parry a powerful low drive.

Wantage then pulled level just after the hour as Ben Holder shot from the edge of the area, with Steve Robertson getting the final touch on its way into the bottom corner.

The visitors were now in the driving seat, although it appeared as if Bassett would do enough to hold on for a share of the spoils.

That was until two minutes into injury time when Chester rose at the far post to meet a cross from the left and headed into the corner.

Bassett's league record against Wantage now stands at four wins and 19 defeats in 23 meetings.

While the outcome of their latest encounter was all too familiar, few of those losses will have been suffered in a manner as painful as this one.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Tuesday 6th September 2022 at 22:22