Sustain Stadium, Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 27 December 2022

For the first time this season, Royal Wootton Bassett Town suffered defeat in the league by more than a single goal as Sam Collier's side fell to a disappointing 3-1 derby defeat against Corsham Town.

Christmas may be the season of giving, but Bassett were in a far too generous mood, shipping three goals in the opening quarter of the match - and two inside the opening ten minutes.

That left Bassett with far too much work to do to try and salvage something from a game that Collier and his team - edged out only on penalties by Corsham in the FA Vase at the start of the month - will have been confident they could take something from.

The visitors opened the scoring after being awarded an early penalty which Niekell Plummer converted.

And it was soon 2-0 as Sean Keet was on hand to put the ball away after a free kick had been redirected across goal.

Only eight minutes were on the clock at this point and Bassett already had a mountain to climb.

And their task was made even more difficult when centre half Keet added his second and his team's third shortly before the half hour mark.

Needing a miracle, Bassett threw caution to the wind in the second half and that did lead to chances, although Sam Jepson in the Corsham goal proved tough to beat.

Such tactics did lead the hosts exposed at the back too and, despite Bassett's improvement, it was Corsham who seemed likeliest to score and further extend their lead, with Jaydn Mundle's goal leading an, at times, charmed life.

Eventually Bassett did get on the scoresheet, Matt Jones converting a late penalty that was all but a mere Christmas consolation.

Bassett's dismal league record against Corsham thus continues - and Collier will be looking for a reaction from his team when they open 2023 at home against title challengers Malvern Town.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Wednesday 28th December 2022 at 08:17