Royal Wootton Bassett Town's luckless run continued as Highworth Town edged a 1-0 victory in their Hellenic League Premier Division derby.

Harvey Scholes' second half strike decided the outcome of the game as Bassett again did everything - including striking the woodwork - but score.

With the teams finding themselves in the bottom half of the table at the start of play, this was a derby that both sides were looking to as a means of kickstarting their seasons.

Ultimately it would be the hosts Highworth who prevailed with Bassett left to mull over another frustrating afternoon in front of goal.

The opening period saw both teams come close to scoring but fail to break the deadlock.

For Highworth Leon Morrison saw a strike from distance whistle narrowly over after Bassett were sloppy in possession, turning the ball over in their own half.

For Bassett, a superb counter, initiated by Bonsa Teshome's tackle on Bailey Gallagher, saw Marcel Lewis surge forward down the right. He delivered a low cross that Kye Williams steered towards goal with a first time clip. His shot seemed destined for the bottom corner but Oli Gargett managed to tip around the post.

Adam House then got enough of a hand on the ball to deny Connor Britchford-Stanley after he was played in behind the defence before, at the other end, a Lewis drive from 18 yards went just wide of the right post.

As time wound down, Aaron Voller headed narrowly over from a corner as the opening period ended goalless.

Bassett began the second half brightly - and thought they had a goal when Lewis took a simple pass from Kian McNally, cut left and glided past two defenders before arrowing a daisycutter towards the bottom right corner from a tight angle. Yet, as has been Bassett's luck, the ball struck the inside of the post and rebounded back across the face of goal before being cleared.

Bassett continued to be the more threatening of the teams but pressure could not be converted into the decisive breakthrough.

Instead the hosts would eventually get their noses ahead.

It wasn't the prettiest of goals but it made all the difference.

Morrison rose to flick on Liam Haines' long throw and, aided by some ball watching, former Bassett man Harvey Scholes - who was on as a second half substitute - found himself unmarked to stab home into the bottom corner.

House later had to be alert to parry at point blank range from Idris Thomas-Jones after he jumped on a loose Ed Taylor backpass.

Bassett, meanwhile, were unable to summon a response as Highworth tightened up, seeing out the rest of the match to preserve the win.

Jonny Aitkenhead's team were once again left to reflect on the chances they passed up.

Once their luck turns and they get converted into goals, the points will start to come.

The performances have been good enough - it's just small margins that, at the moment, are not going Bassett's way.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 6th September 2025 at 21:08