Sustain Stadium, Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 3 December 2022

For the second season in a row Royal Wootton Bassett Town suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the FA Vase third round.

While a narrow 3-1 loss against Hamworthy United ended last year's record breaking run, the manner of defeat in this season's record equalling journey was more painful as Sam Collier's side lost 4-3 on penalties to Corsham Town after having pushed their Wiltshire and Hellenic League rivals all the way in a tense 90 minutes of football that ended goalless.

Knowing they were in for a battle against powerful, strong opponents, Collier set his side up in a relatively defensive formation. Wanting to keep things tight at the back, those tactics were executed diligently and paid off during the opening period which - for the most part - passed without any significant action in front of goal.

The game finally started to open up in the final stages of the half though, with the first proper chance falling to the visitors' Ryan Bath, who sliced wide of the mark after a free kick fell to him in the box.

Mark Cooper then hooked just off target following Nathan Davis' long throw, while at the other end Jack Hobson-McVeigh came close, steering a low effort inches wide of the left post after Alfie Presley's low corner bounced around in the box.

Corsham soon had the best opportunity of the game so far in stoppage time following a slip from 'keeper Matt Crowther after he had came out of his area to try and deal with a ball over the top. But, first, a sliding tackle from Chris Taylor then a block from Adam Corcoran and, finally, a parry from Crowther saved Bassett from going into the break a goal down as the visitors were unable to take advantage of having multiple bites at the cherry.

As tense and tight as the opening half was, the second was more open.

Again, however, neither team was able to make the decisive breakthrough.

Three minutes after the restart Dan Demkiv steered across the face of goal from a tight angle following a square ball into the six yard box from his brother Callum after Corsham were able to break the Bassett offside trap.

Shortly after, an unmarked Dan Demkiv headed wide from a Davis delivery before Bath went close again with an effort from the edge of the box that was inches wide of the post.

Both sides were at this point getting desperate as it appeared one goal would perhaps be enough to decide the tie.

Bassett had their best spell of the game around the hour mark as Matt Bennett skewed a glancing header wide from twelve yards following Louis Spalding's teasing cross. A defensive lapse then presented Alfie Presley with a golden opportunity as he found space between the centre halves to receive Tommy Ouldridge's weighted delivery from the right, but a slip when he just had the 'keeper to beat put paid to his hopes of opening the scoring.

At the other end, Bassett survived a pair of goalmouth scrambles - the first following a corner, the second from a right-wing cross to the near post.

A Matt Jones corner almost saw Bassett snatch a goal. Sam Jepson came off his line to claim and came up empty-handed, allowing Luke Whelan to redirect the ball to the far post with the 'keeper stranded. However, Corcoran could only head over.

Corsham then could have snatched a winner on the break when Matt Jenkins was played in behind the defence, but a great recovery run from Jowan Partridge applied enough pressure to force the visitors' substitute to skew wide when he probably should have done better.

Although play continued to go from end to end, that would be the final real opportunity in front of goal - but it wasn't to be the last moment of drama in normal time as Golding received a controversial red card following an altercation in the visitors' box.

There wasn't enough time for that numerical disadvantage to do Bassett any harm though as the referee soon blew the final whistle.

That meant penalties. But, unlike away at Wellington in the previous round, Bassett would not come out on top.

Bassett went first with Taylor finding the net, the ball just squeezing past Jepson who guessed correctly. Matt Swann then levelled before what proved to be a decisive second and third round of kicks.

Partridge - superb at centre half and Bassett's man of the match - saw his effort saved by Jepson. And although Crowther kept out Davis' subsequent effort, Jepson gave his side the advantage as he denied Spalding.

Matt Groves put Corsham ahead - and it was a lead his side would not surrender. Hobson-McVeigh and Presley scored to make sure it came down to the last penalty. However Leon Greenland and - with the deciding spot kick - Dan Demkiv converted, meaning it was Corsham who were the side writing history as they advanced to the fourth round for the first time.

It was a superb effort from start to finish from Bassett - but ultimately it wasn't to be.

Penalties are a cruel way to lose. However, Bassett can take heart from a gutsy display - and another successful run in the Vase.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 4th December 2022 at 10:21