Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 16 April 2023

For more than seven months, Royal Wootton Bassett Town were winless in the South West Regional Women's Football League Premier Division. Simon Harrison's side had played thirteen league games in that time and earned just two points, a haul that left Bassett firmly anchored to the bottom of the table and in danger of finishing the season with an ugly round zero in the win column.

Finally, though, that ignominious record was brought to an end - and in some style as Bassett thumped Ilminster Town 5-0 in their final home fixture of the campaign.

Their first league win of the season was no smash and grab, fortuitous victory. Instead, it was as emphatic as they could come, a product of a fine team performance.

Bassett were threatening in attack and could realistically have scored more than five goals. At the back, Bassett were resilient, protecting 'keeper Millie Powell and ensuring the win was punctuated by a clean sheet. The midfield, meanwhile, were composed, disciplined and helped Bassett control the game.

This was a win that was a long-time coming and which was fully deserved.

Bassett had led 2-0 at half time thanks to goals from two of the team's more experienced players.

Maddy Elliott opened the scoring, using her pace to beat the Ilminster 'keeper to latch onto Ellie O'Nions carefully weighted through ball before coolly slotting home.

Amber Egerton was then on hand to make it 2-0, getting the final touch at the back post to steer in from Megan Young's delivery.

That put Bassett in control at half time - a rare position given their record so far this season. The hosts' management team thus went into the interval somewhat nervous about what could come following the restart.

But they needn't have been so worried as Bassett produced a clinical second half display to kill off the game and decisively seal the points.

Bassett's third arrived in somewhat bizarre circumstances. Awarded an indirect free kick on the edge of the six yard box, Emma Sykes played the ball back to Elliott, whose initial shot was blocked. Jasmine Kennedy's block then ensured the danger was not cleared and Elliott was in the the right place at the right time to slot home her second.

It was soon four - this time with a more conventional goal as Elliott completed her hat trick from the penalty spot after Hannah Gulliver was felled in the box.

Sylvannah Winstone then completed the scoring, coolly finishing after Ilminster failed to clear from a Beth Chapman corner.

There could well have been further goals as Aly Lyons and then Young both hit the bar while Chantalle Church narrowly missed the target from a delightful Gulliver cross.

Bassett's margin of victory was emphatic enough though and more than deserved.

As well as breaking their league duck, the result also gives Bassett renewed hope that they can avoid finishing bottom come the end of the season.

There is still plenty of hard work to do to extricate themselves from last place - and the fact their four remaining fixtures are all away from home adds a level of difficulty.

But with this win, Bassett are now three points behind second bottom Poole Town, who picked up a point in their penultimate fixture against Bishops Lydeard, who Bassett face next.

It's likely that Harrison and his team will need two wins from those four games to climb a place, while a further point would make certain of that.

It's certainly a tough ask. But after the most testing of seasons, Bassett are sure to give it all they can.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 16th April 2023 at 19:33