Sustain Stadium, Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 7 April 2023

After defeat away at Shrivenham in midweek, Royal Wootton Bassett Town quickly and emphatically exacted revenge over their local rivals as Sam Collier's side finished their home fixtures for the season in style with a 4-0 win.

The result keeps Bassett in the hunt for a top five finish in the Hellenic League Premier Division too. However, Bassett will need to win away at Longlevens in their final league match and rely on results elsewhere in order to overhaul Roman Glass St George and Westfields.

If Bassett are to repeat this performance though - and avoid their standards falling as they did on Tuesday in the initial meeting with Shrivenham - then Collier and his team have a good chance of ending their season with a win, and also triumphing in Thursday's Bluefin Sports Challenge Cup semi final at Lydney.

In the home contest with Shrivenham, Bassett struck first to ensure a crucial half time lead.

The opening 45 minutes was relatively even, with forward Josh Elms proving a danger for the visitors.

But Bassett were able to register the opening goal shortly after the half hour mark when Matt Jones coolly placed into the bottom corner after the ball kindly fell to him following Matt Bennett's surging run into the box.

Bassett then doubled their advantage ten minutes into the second half. Shrivenham 'keeper Sam Ayres could only parry from Jones' fiercely struck low free kick and Bennett was on hand to mop up from the rebound.

It was soon 3-0 as Jones put the game beyond sight with his second. Bassett were awarded a penalty for handball and Jones - now level with Alfie Presley at the top of the scoring charts - put away the spot kick, with Ayres unable to keep it out despite getting a hand to the ball.

Jones' tally of goals is particularly impressive given he only signed at the end of October.

Another player with a healthy record in front of goal this season has been defender Louis Spalding. And he entered double figures for the campaign, rounding things off late on as he raced onto a perfectly weighted Tommy Ouldridge through ball and coolly slotted beyond an onrushing Ayres to make it 4-0.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 8th April 2023 at 12:14