Sustain Stadium, Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 9 October 2022

Royal Wootton Bassett Town were unable to build on last weekend's Vitality Women's FA Cup victory as they returned to South West Regional Women's Football League Premier Division action with a 3-0 home defeat against Forest Green Rovers.

Unable to find a way past a resolute Forest Green defence, Bassett ultimately succumbed after Charlie Rowlands scored a brace and Estelle Randall completed the scoring for Forest Green.

It did not help Bassett that they found themselves a goal down within three minutes of the opening whistle when good play between Nynka Rucker and Zoe Boyd allowed the latter to pick out Rowlands, who fired into the roof of the net

That was Rovers' second good chance of the match - and they had a third inside the opening ten minutes when Hattie Jones shot from the edge of the area but Millie Powell was equal to her effort.

Bassett eventually settled into the match and the teams largely cancelled one another out for the remainder of the half.

There was therefore everything still to play for following the restart.

But Forest Green struck a decisive blow just before the hour when Rucker raced onto a ball over the top and squared for Rowlands to steer home and double her side's lead.

It was then soon 3-0 as Randall shrugged off the attention of Laura Jefferies and Sylvannah Winstone before rounding Powell and coolly slotting in.

That excellent individual effort signalled game over for Bassett, who were unable to conjure up a consolation.

Still without a league win after four games, the team are now due to get two weeks' respite with County Cup action against Salisbury next week before a visit to Torquay United in the Women's FA Cup.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 9th October 2022 at 19:32