Royal Wootton Bassett Town Under 18s came from behind to beat AFC Aldermaston 4-2 as they kept the pressure on Wiltshire League Floodlit Division leaders Kintbury Rangers.

Bassett's fixture was the only game that survived the wet weather in the division this week. Pitting second in the table Bassett against bottom side AFC Aldermaston who had won just one of their opening seven games, losing the other six, the form book would have suggested a comfortable night for the home side. However, it was anything but for Nick Warren's side in an entertaining game.

Right from the start Aldermaston matched the home side stride for stride and were much the better side in the opening half. They went 1-0 up just after the half hour mark when Freddie Stewart pounced on an error in the six-yard box by Charlie Stammers, who failed to clear the ball, enabling Stewart to fire Aldermaston in front.

The visitors then went close to extending their lead a minute before half-time, Oscar Kirby firing in a powerful shot which was well saved with his feet by Jack Rae and it remained just the one goal at the break.

Bassett upped their game in the second half and went close to getting back on level terms ten minutes into the second half when Flynn Walters saw his shot deflected onto the post and out for a corner.

They eventually did get themselves back in the game on the hour mark when a misplaced shot from Rhys Westlake fell to Euan Spackman who put it away for 1-1.

The home side then went in front for the first time ten minutes later, a dangerous cross from the right by Stammers to the far post saw Walters stretch to get on the end of it, which he succeeded in doing, keeping the ball in play and putting it into the six-yard box where Jacob Rendell-Haines had a simple tap in for 2-1.

They did not hold the lead for long though.

Aldermaston were awarded a free kick 25-yards out in a central position and Kirby smashed a set piece into the top corner of the net to make it 2-2 with 15 minutes to go.

Bassett knew they could not really afford to drop many more points in their quest for the title and immediately sought to respond, Spackman firing a shot just over the bar within a minute of Aldermaston's goal.

As the game went into its final ten minutes, it looked like the sides would have to settle for a point apiece, but Bassett's Westlake had other ideas.

With seven minutes to go the ball was fed into his feet on the edge of the Aldermaston box and he turned his defender and slotted the ball past the keeper into the far bottom corner of the net for 3-2.

Aldermaston once again sought to get back on level terms. But in pushing players forward, they were caught on the counter-attack just two minutes after falling behind.

A ball out of defence saw Walters pick up possession on the halfway line and run past a couple of defenders with Westlake joining him to make it two-against one. As the Aldermaston keeper came out, Walters unselfishly slid the ball across to Westlake who had an open goal in front of him and he made no mistake, putting it away for 4-2 and to secure all three points for the home side.

Bassett certainly knew they had been involved in a tough game - and if Aldermaston continue to play like they did then their second win of the season cannot be too far away.

Credit: Mark Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 26th November 2022 at 17:47