Royal Wootton Bassett Town exited the Marsh Hellenic League Challenge Cup following a 3-0 home defeat against Worcester Raiders.

Facing a side who had put them to the sword in a 7-2 thrashing when they met in the league, Bassett were much improved. However, the visitors' greater experience at both ends of the pitch ultimately proved decisive.

The final score arguably flattered Raiders somewhat too, with their second and third goals not coming until the final twenty minutes after Bassett had been reduced to ten men, with defender Kian McNally having received a second yellow card.

After a lively opening in which both sides sought to press forward, Raiders eventually took the lead as the 20 minute mark approached. And they did so in style, Bailey Fuller bending a free kick from just outside in the box around the wall and into the bottom left corner after he had been felled.

Eight minutes later Raiders almost scored another stunner. Patient build up play eventually allowed Ben Sanogo to arrow a shot at goal with the outside of his boot from twenty yards. Lewis Clark in the Bassett goal was beaten - but the ball rattled the post before the rebound fell into the path of Sanogo whose clipped rebound effort was spectacularly tipped over.

Bassett then had a great opportunity to pull level when Dylan Griffin intercepted a wayward pass and immediately set free Ben Cleary in behind the Worcester defence. However he could only drag across the face of goal and wide from the edge of the area, much to the relief of Raiders 'keeper Charlie Emery.

The team traded opportunities in the second half with no further initial damage to the scoreline.

But Bassett's hopes of getting on terms were made harder when McNally was dismissed with just under twenty minutes to go.

And Raiders took almost immediate advantage. Harry Messenger gave the ball away inside the Bassett half with Fuller feeding Lincoln Hunt who cut back for Kiyan Baker-McKay to finish from close range.

Hunt then completed the scoring in injury time. The Bassett midfield opened up, allowing Fuller to play out wide to Baker-McKay and, after driving forward, he squared for an unmarked Hunt to tap in from six yards.

With Bassett having been underdogs, the outcome was perhaps to be as expected. Though Jonny Aitkenhead's side can be pleased enough with the solid seventy minutes or so they had prior to going down to ten men.

The result does mean that Bassett now just have the league to focus on with a big push required to achieve safety in their remaining 18 fixtures.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 14th December 2025 at 11:00