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Jas strikes key note as Bassett end recent blues

Twerton Park, Sunday 27th October 2024

Goals from Jasmine Kennedy and captain Laura Jefferies earned Royal Wootton Bassett Town a vital 2-1 win away at Bath City in the South West Regional Women's Football League Division One North.

The result, earned thanks to a gritty, determined performance, ends Bassett's four game winless run which had seen Adam Wood's side pick up just two points from three games.

And it was important that Bassett got back to winning ways - especially with leaders Gloucester City, who boast a 100 per cent record from their opening five games - coming to the Sustain Stadium next Sunday

Bassett led early thanks to Kennedy's quick reactions. Bath 'keeper Sadie Farley had denied Caitlin Brooks after she received a fine ball into the box from Darcy Cox. But the rebound fell to Kennedy, who made no mistake, steering into the top corner.

Having lost away at Bath and drawn at home, Bassett knew this was going to be a battle.

And the Romans quickly posed a threat as they sought to get on terms, Amy Key heading wide from a corner before Tara Taylor could only place off target after seizing on an underhit pass from 'keeper Millie Powell that was intended for Kelly Nightingale.

But, in an even opening half, Bassett seemed as though they were going to head into the interval ahead.

That was until Bath snatched an equaliser with moments remaining until the half time whistle. Bassett were unable to clear from Erin Duffy's dangerous left wing cross, and the ball fell to Taylor, who showed good close control before fashioning space in a tight area and poking past Powell from close range.

Powell may have been beaten then, but she pulled off a fine save shortly after the restart to keep the scores level. Madeleine Brown conjured up a shot from a tight angle and Powell showed great reflexes to tip the ball over the bar.

It remained a tight contest with the teams pushing for the next goal, though few clear cut chances of note being created thanks to some solid defending from both sides.

Around the hour mark Hannah Gulliver shot a free kick straight at Farley while at the other end Koren Thorner-Atkinson struck wide from distance.

The decisive moment of the second half then arrived with quarter of an hour to go. Nightingale found Jefferies out wide on the left and the Bassett skipper shrugged off the attentions of Eve Trivett before lifting a shot Farley, who - despite getting a glove to the ball - was unable to keep it out.

Bassett then almost had a third with eight minutes to go as Jefferies found Maddy Elliott whose low drive fell inches wide of the post.

The action switched to the other end where substitute Poppy Spratt came close to equalising with pretty much her first touch after coming off the bench. However her half volley sailed narrowly wide with Powell beaten.

Both league meetings between the teams produced late goals - Bassett's visit to Twerton Park seeing the Romans score an injury time winner before Bassett snatched a point in the return fixture with a last ditch equaliser.

There was plenty of stoppage time played on this occasion.

But the full time whistle eventually arrived with Bassett's lead still intact, the closest Bath came being when Rebecca Fry tried her luck from distance only to shoot straight into the hands of Powell.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 27th October 2024 at 19:17