Royal Wootton Bassett Town were unable to get the result they needed this afternoon to avoid finishing bottom of the South West Regional Women's Football League Premier Division as Warminster Town triumphed 2-0 courtesy of first half goals from Jazz Weir and Polly Spratt.
After victory in their penultimate fixture away at Ilminster Town, Bassett went into the fixture needing a draw to haul themselves above Poole Town. In the end though, that proved too big an ask.
Both Warminster goals came during a first half in which Bassett performed below their best.
Weir grabbed the first. A Millie Spratt corner fell to Anna Lyons, whose shot was blocked, but the loose ball fell to Weir who made no mistake.
Another set piece then led to the hosts' second, with Millie Spratt delivering a free kick that her sister Poppy headed home.
At 2-0 down, Bassett finally started to kick into life, though the best opportunity they could muster was when Laura Jefferies struck a free kick straight at Abi Footner.
Bassett improved after the restart and were arguably the better team in the second half.
A probing Hannah Gulliver run led to her being in a good position to shoot but there was unfortunately not enough power on her effort to trouble Footner.
Megan Young then produced Bassett's best chance of the game as she left full back Emily Smith trailing in her wake before delivering a ball that bounced around the six yard box and somehow failed to find its way in.
More pinball in the box saw Caily Morse fire a shot that was deflected wide off the face of a home defender before Libby Goater came close to slicing into her own net when trying to clear from a corner.
With Bassett upping the pressure, Warminster chances were rare in the second half, though substitute Mia Blazey did force Millie Powell into a save late on.
Bassett's last opportunity of the game then fell to Beth Chapman after good build up play from Gulliver and Chantelle Church, but Chapman could only shoot wide.
That brought an end to a frustrating afternoon and season, with the result representing the third time Warminster have beaten and blanked Bassett this campaign.
Despite a competitive end of season run that included their only two league wins of the season, an away draw at Bishops Lydeard and an unfortunate 1-0 loss away at champions Torquay United, Bassett therefore have to contend with finishing in last place and very likely the end of a four year spell at the fifth tier of women's football.
There have been signs of promise in the last month and a half though - and hopefully Bassett can pick back up on those after some time off to lick the wounds from a tough, trying year.
Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 14th May 2023 at 21:46
