Royal Wootton Bassett Town took a very impressive point off South West Regional Women's Football League Division One North champions Gloucester City as the teams shared six goals in a thrilling contest.

Indeed Bassett were mere minutes away from becoming the first team to beat Gloucester in the league all season. However the Tigers equalised late to earn a point that keeps their unbeaten record intact.

Both sides showed attacking intent from the off.

And it would be Bassett who opened the scoring when Caitlin Brooks headed in after home 'keeper Sam Linteo came for and missed a Hannah Gulliver corner.

But despite going ahead, Bassett would trail at the break.

A trio of Millie Powell saves kept the visitors ahead before the dangerous Sachiko Kaneko-Grun eventually got the better of her.

Kaneko-Grun soon struck again, bundling in the rebound after a Powell double save.

The same player struck the bar twice early in the second half. Following the first, the rebound was put away only for an offside flag to rule out the goal. The second time saw Gloucester convinced the ball had bounced down over the line yet their appeals were turned away.

Surviving those scares, Bassett quickly levelled as Mia Mugford fired into the bottom corner after being set free in behind the Gloucester defence by a Brooks header.

Bassett were then soon ahead as Linteo lost track of an Honor Fraser delivery that drifted into the net.

The visitors could even have been 4-2 in front as Brooks headed narrowly over from a Fraser free kick.

Ultimately though Bassett were unable to hold on for the win.

Fine defending from captain Laura Jefferies and further heroics from Powell in goal kept Bassett in front.

However Kaneko-Grun would break their resistance to complete her hat trick as she shot into bottom corner.

Kaneko-Grun then almost won it for Gloucester but, for the third time in the match, rattled the woodwork.

Despite the fortune Bassett had, their point was a richly deserved one as they upped their game against the cream of this year's Division One North.

The result - coupled with Bitton's victory over Bath City - does mean that Adam Wood's side will (barring a miracle) have to settle for third place in the final standings.

But Bassett can be more than content with the way they came close to ending Gloucester's hopes of an unbeaten title winning campaign.

This was a highly impressive point.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 6th April 2025 at 20:40