Sustain Stadium, Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 29 October 2022

Royal Wootton Bassett Town battled back from a goal down to claim an impressive point in a high intensity, full-blooded battle against third place Westfields.

Debutant Matt Jones fired in on the turn, sweeping home from a Tommy Ouldridge cross, on 77 minutes to cancel out Dan Stoneman's earlier equaliser.

There was then further late drama with both sides spurning great chances to grab a winner and Bassett being reduced to ten men after Adam Corcoran received a straight red card.

Creating deeper selection issues at centre half for Bassett boss Sam Collier, Dave Bampton also received a red card after the final whistle for foul and abusive language.

That's a problem for another day though. Instead, Collier and his side can look back with pride on an another afternoon when they went toe-to-toe with one of the Hellenic League Premier Division's big guns and deservedly came away with something to show for their efforts.

On balance, Westfields may have had the greater share of possession and the game's chances. But Bassett were duly rewarded for their gritty display, tireless effort and the fact they didn't back down in the face of physical opponents.

The teams had gone into the break without the deadlock being broken. However, after an open first half it didn't seem as though the game was going to end that way.

Opportunities arose at both ends of the pitch, with the opening two falling to Bassett within seven minutes of kick off as Bailey Gallagher cut inside two defenders before shooting into the hands of Ian Havard before the visitors' 'keeper did well to claw Jack Hobson-McVeigh's deflected free kick around the post.

A trio of Westfields openings then all forced Matt Crowther into action. The 'keeper held on the dive from Harry Pitman's low, rasping effort from distance before racing off his line to parry at the forward's feet. The Bassett shotstopper then was equal to Harry Iddles' strike from the edge of the area after the ball had broken to the midfielder following a bustling Morgan Evans run.

The two teams continued to trade blows. On 28 minutes, Bassett were unfortunate not to go ahead when Bampton met a Hobson-McVeigh corner with a towering header at the far post. Havard was beaten, but the ball was blocked on the line before the 'keeper was able to snatch it away.

Westfields then were left to rue a golden opportunity as Iddles crossed from the left to an unmarked Dan Stoneman, but, from a tight angle, he snatched at a half volley, dragging the ball across the face of goal before Bassett hacked clear.

That openness continued following the restart. Less than sixty seconds after play resumed, Ouldridge received a Gio Wrona flick on before threading a precise through ball for Matt Bennett to race onto. Bennett was left with just Havard to beat, but the Westfields 'keeper did enough to close the angle and parried away.

A minute later, Bassett conceded a free kick on the edge of their own box following a Westfields counter. Matt McDonald failed to take advantage of a golden opportunity though, shooting into the wall, with the rebound falling to Pitman who saw his effort blocked.

After such a lively start to proceedings, play eventually settled and the two teams largely cancelled each other out.

That stasis lasted until the 63rd minute. Bassett had just seen Louis Spalding shoot weakly at Havard after latching onto Wrona's lofted pass into the left channel. Havard quickly redirected play, with Josh Hunt's flick landing at the feet of Stoneman, who fashioned space to shoot on the edge of the box, curling into the right corner with a well-taken strike.

It felt like a game where Westfields, who had just about enjoyed the better of proceedings, were likely to go on and win if they were to score first.

But throughout this season, Bassett have been a side who you can never count out. And they duly got back on terms with thirteen minutes to go.

Keeping possession alive in the right corner, Jowan Partridge set the ball back to Ouldridge, who teased in a cross that fell perfectly for Jones inside the area. The substitute then rolled marker Sean Powell before arrowing a low drive into the bottom left corner.

That set up a hectic finish to the match.

With three minutes to go, Jones steered in a hanging cross which Harry Walters redirected into the six-yard area. Alan Griffin won an aerial duel against Havard who fell to the floor, but the veteran marksman was unable to shuffle the ball in from close range, instead seeing his tight-angled shot deflected wide.

The resulting corner came to nothing, and Westfields sought to break. That was interrupted by Corcoran's heavy challenge on Steve Davis near halfway, which was deemed worthy of a straight red card.

A nervy final few moments were therefore in store, with Westfields seeking to capitalise on their numerical advantage.

They seemed destined to find a winner when a goalmouth scramble ensued in injury time. Bassett failed to clear properly and the ball was recycled back into the box, a cross from the left corner picking out an unmarked Hunt at the far post. But, rather embarrassingly for the forward, he headed wide from six yards out.

His miss could prove costly for Westfields, who – in failing to come out victorious – lose further ground on Cribbs and Malvern Town in the race for promotion.

For Bassett, it's another solid result – and further evidence of the huge progress Collier and his side have made this season.

Man of the Match: Jowan Partridge – the youngster's stock continues to rise after he produced another mature, composed display at right back, dealing well with the pace and trickery of Westfields dangerman Stoneman.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 30th October 2022 at 09:25