Character is going to be key if Royal Wootton Bassett Town are going to haul themselves out of danger in the Hellenic League Premier Division - and players with the stomach for the fight.

The thirteen players who put in a shift across a tense ninety minutes away at Cribbs certainly demonstrated the qualities that are needed.

And their dogged, determined display earned a vital 2-1 victory for Jonny Aitkenhead's side against opponents who also find themselves fighting at the wrong end of the table.

At times it wasn't pretty - particularly towards the end when Cribbs applied intense pressure. And Bassett (finally) had some good fortune with the hosts missing a second half penalty.

But Bassett also demonstrated their quality with the ball - and that was key to what proved to be the winning goal, scored by Dylan Griffin in the game's 27th minute.

The first chance of the match fell to Cribbs right back Corey Stock whose powerful 20 yard drive stung the palms of Lewis Clark with an offside flag helpfully denying Kosuke Ono the opportunity to follow up with the rebound.

Bassett should then have led on 14 minutes when a slip from captain Oscar Sullivanset Ben Cleary through on goal. The striker did almost everything right, slowing things down as he bore down on goal. However when it came to the shot he somehow skewed wide.

At that point the Bassett faithful may have been thinking it was going to be one of those days.

And that feeling would have strengthened four minutes later when Cribbs took the lead. Beating Clark to the loose ball after the Bassett' keeper spilled Arran Sweete's free kick, Sullivan earned his team a penalty. And Sweete stepped forward, coolly sending Clark the wrong way.

Bassett quickly got back on terms though. Ollie Smith whipped in a fine cross that Hugo Kemmery spilled at the left post. George Cook then kept things a life, teasing a ball back in that Cleary, with his back to goal, hooked in with an impressive close range acrobatic effort.

That was redemption for Cleary - and for Bassett. And the visitors were soon ahead.

Their second goal was a beautiful team effort. Intricate play involving Griffin, Gabe Reivers, Ed Taylor and Cleary saw Bassett weave a way through congested space in the heart of the pitch. That set free Griffin, whose quick feet opened up room to poke an effort that nestled in the bottom corner via a deflection.

Bassett now held the upper hand though Cribbs avoided falling further behind. They came close on the stroke of half time too when Louie Farrow's back post headed was palmed away by Clark.

The second half saw Bassett start well enough. Cribbs were held at bay while Cleary forced Kemmery to parry with a flicked near post header from a Smith cross.

But as the half went on, Cribbs asserted greater control and Bassett started to open up.

Both Sweete and Anthony Essono could only snatch at chances when Bassett failed to deal with balls into the box.

Then with twenty minutes to go, Joe Davis - with his back to goal and just inside the box - was felled, giving Cribbs a second spot kick. Sweete took the honours again but this time ballooned his shot over the bar.

Cribbs continued to probe with Bassett - desperate for a win - switching systems to deal with the fact they were being forced deeper and deeper.

But while they bent, Bassett did not break, with the closest Cribbs came to snatching an equaliser coming in injury time when Clark fisted a low Sweete drive away after Max Kendle's long throw fell for him on the edge of the area.

The full time whistle soon arrived and Bassett could finally breathe. Finally they were winners in the league again, their victory coming courtesy of a gutsy team effort

Player of the Match: Ollie Smith - it was another impressive display from the young full back who made his mark at both ends of the pitch, teeing up Bassett's equaliser while producing a solid defensive performance.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 22nd November 2025 at 17:42