Royal Wootton Bassett Town's positive run of form in the Hellenic League Premier Division continued as Jonny Aitkenhead's side picked up a solid point in an eventful 2-2 draw away at Hereford Pegasus.

Both sides went ahead in the match only for their leads to be cancelled quickly out. Both teams also will have felt they could have gone on to win the game, with Bassett striking the post, while Pegasus saw a late penalty brilliantly saved by Bassett player of the match Callum Godfrey.

Bassett entered the match with four wins and a draw from their last seven league encounters - their only two losses being against title challengers Roman Glass St George and Slimbridge. And they were looking to extend that further away at Pegasus - and close the gap to a side sitting in mid-table.

While Bassett remain eight points behind their Hereford opppnents, the point serves them well in their battle to pull away from the bottom end of the table.

Indeed, Bassett gained a place, moving above Pershore Town into 15th, and did not see any of the sides below them close the gap.

The first goal of an even first half arrival ten minutes before the interval - and a fine goal it was too. Rudi Hopkins stole possession on the halfway line and burst forward with intent. Breaking into the box, he struck a tight-angled shot from 15 yards that was blocked. But the ball fell to Ollie Smith on the edge of the area, and the Bassett left back chested the ball down before drilling a fierce low effort into the bottom corner.

Bassett's lead would last all of five minutes though as Kostas Striunga swept home after the visitors failed to clear from a free kick from the right corner that was swung into the box.

Pegasus then began the second half with intent, but a pair of fine Godfrey saves denied Striunga and teammate Jordan Williamson.

Their pressure eventually paid off though when Williamson glanced home a header from a free kick delivery swung in from the deep.

Bassett wouldn't be playing from behind for long though as they were level within two minutes. Ben Cleary flicked the ball on for Ed Taylor in the left channel. After cutting inside, he saw his shot from the edge of the area blocked - and the loose ball fell to substitute Gabe Reivers who arrowed a first time left footed effort into the bottom corner.

The hosts would have a perfect opportunity to make it 3-2 when awarded a penalty for a soft foul. Williamson took responsibility and steered his penalty towards the bottom corner. However, saving his side, Godfrey sprung low to his left to parry away before rapidly leaping in the opposite direction to deny the Pegasus forward a chance at the rebound.

On a day when the Forest Green Rovers-loanee showed his quality, this was his biggest save of all.

Bassett then finished strongly as they went in search of a late winner. And Nat Bell came closest to providing that when his tight-angled shot shaved the right post.

A draw was arguably a fair outcome with both teams having played with intent throughout an entertaining contest.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 24th January 2026 at 22:30