Having led 4-0, Royal Wootton Bassett Town survived a seemingly impossible comeback attempt from Longlevens, hanging on for a 4-3 victory to reach the last eight of the Marsh Challenge Cup.

First half goals from Dan Grieve, Ollie Pitt, Bailey Gallagher and Alfie Presley seemingly put Bassett in total control of the tie.

Even though the hosts pulled one back before the break through Monty New, Sam Collier's side sensed little real danger.

Bassett should have been out of sight. Indeed, 4-1 up, most would have been forgiven for thinking they were.

However, after the break it was a different matter.

New grabbed his second shortly before the hour and doubt started to creep in to the Bassett ranks. Sam Kelly then added a third and it was now anyone's game.

Fortunately though, that seventh goal would be the final one of an exhilarating, dramatic, nerve-jangling encounter.

It certainly didn't have to be like that. But Bassett have the tendency to make things difficult for themselves when they don't necessarily need to be.

Bassett had led after just six minutes. Grieve timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and latch onto a Presley through ball before coolly slotting home.

The opening thirty minutes were relatively evenly contested though with both teams showing well.

But Bassett's second on the half hour seemed to tip the tie firmly in the visitors' favour.

Taking advantage of a rare start, Pitt finally broke his Bassett duck as he curled a fine left-footed effort into the top corner from the edge of the box.

That was the first of a quickfire three goal salvo.

Bassett's third arrived five minutes later in controversial fashion. In the process of delivering a cross from the right, Gallagher was fouled with the referee blowing his whistle.

However, the ball sailed over Longlevens 'keeper Kane Winman and into the net and, rather than proceed with the free kick as might have been expected, the man in black gave the goal.

Longlevens were furious. Given what was to come, Bassett were delighted with the decision.

There was no doubting the validity of Bassett's fourth. A clever move down the right ended with Grieve being felled in the box. Leading scorer Presley was on hand to take the penalty and duly made no mistake.

4-0 Bassett - surely that was game over?

Longlevens did manage to get on the scoresheet before the break as Alex Knight blocked Dan Brabham's attempted clearance and the ball fell to New who fired into the net.

A somewhat fortuitous goal, Bassett probably thought little of it.

Indeed, while the performance level dropped after an outstanding first half display, Bassett were troubled little early in the second half.

In fact Bassett came close to reclaiming their four goal lead when Grieve narrowly headed over from a Pitt cross.

But Longlevens soon made it 4-2 as New headed in from Jack Byard's cross.

At this point Bassett started to flag even more.

They still had chances, Brad Pagliaroli volleying wide shortly after Kelly had come close at the other end.

However, it was Longlevens making most of the running. And with twelve minutes left Kelly took advantage of some slack defending after a cross into the box to steal in and make it 4-3.

The hosts were then left to rue failing to capitalised on opportunities to find an improbable equaliser.

Kelly rushed an effort that went straight at Brabham when well placed. Bassett's blushes were then spared by assistant manager Alan Griffin, who - on as a substitute - was forced to clear off the line after Knight had seemingly got the better of Brabham.

Pagliaroli came close to settling Bassett's now furiously jangling nerves when he sent a free kick just wide of the post in the first minute of stoppage time.

One final chance then fell Longlevens' way when Brabham came up empty hand as he sought to claim a 95th minute corner. Fortunately though, the danger was cleared.

In cup football, you'll take a win, regardless of how it comes about.

Given the position they were in, Bassett will have hoped to have sailed through. Instead, they reach the quarter finals by the skin of their teeth.

That will all be forgotten by the time their last eight tie kicks off though.

Now is the time to think positively and to fix the eyes on the prize - Bassett are 180 minutes of football away from a cup final.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 1st March 2025 at 19:54