Royal Wootton Bassett Town recorded a vitally important 2-1 derby victory away at Fairford Town to keep their Hellenic League Premier Division playoff hopes alive.

A Dan Grieve double proved enough for Bassett to claim three points from a fractious, scrappy, must win fixture.

Bassett took an early lead when Brad Pagliaroli swung in a free kick from the right side and Grieve beat his marker to get a touch to the ball at the near post that guided it into the bottom left corner beyond Harrison Ellis.

That lead should have been doubled just after the restart when a flowing counter ended in Pagliaroli delivering for an unmarked Kyle Witt whose stabbed effort from six yards out was acrobatically tipped over. Witt had another bite at the cherry from the resulting corner but somehow guided his close range over from Jack Hobson-McVeigh's dangerous inswinger.

But it was soon 2-0. Dan Hill's punted a free kick from deep inside Bassett territory forward, with Alan Griffin guiding the ball into the path of Grieve. His first effort was thwarted at point blank range by Ellis, but the forward was on hand to bundle in the follow up.

Fairford got one back when Will Davidson got half a yard on Griffin to steer in from Ben Lodge's low corner.

A tense game then began to open up - and become more fiery - and the offside flag denied Harrison Ellis an equaliser after he slotted in from a Lodge through ball, while Joel Smedley forced James Foster into a diving save.

At the other end, Ellis tipped over a powerful Pagliaroli drive from the edge of the area after the Bassett winger had intercepted a clearance and gone on a mazy run.

As time wound down Fairford came close again to an equaliser when Leighton Blacker shot beyond Foster but Dan Hill was on hand to sweep away as the ball approached the goalline.

A series of corners followed - with 'keeper Ellis, his side desperate for a leveller, joining the Fairford attack. But the Bassett defence held out.

With victory, Bassett moved back above Fairford into eighth.

Sam Collier's side are still on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff places, with six points the gap to current fifth place occupiers Highworth Town, who have played a game less.

Bassett host Highworth next week in another huge derby clash. It's another must win - but Bassett at least go into the game after this confidence boosting triumph.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 9th February 2025 at 09:57