Royal Wootton Bassett Town still may not have found their scoring boots this season. But a stout defence that, in their 2-0 victory against Gloucester City Reserves, produced a fourth clean sheet in five competitive games to date means they are doing just fine.

At the other end, a goal in either half from Elle Scott and Hannah Gulliver meant that James Lally's side made it two wins from two to begin their South West Regional Women's Football League Division One North campaign.

And although behind on games and sitting in seventh, they are within three points of current leaders Whitchurch in a division that is shaping up to be highly competitive.

Against Gloucester's second string, Bassett were deserved winners, though will be looking to sharpen things up in front of goal in the coming weeks.

This was a game with plenty of chances - with Bassett's first coming as early as the fifth minute when Maddy Elliott guided a Briony Hurd pass just past the post.

After Alisha Kantorowicz shot straight at Bassett 'keeper Millie Powell, Elliott again came close but was denied by visiting shotstopper Sam Linteo who did well to parry for a corner.

Midway through the half though Bassett were ahead. Gloucester could only half clear from a corner and midfielder Elle Scott was on hand to fire home her third of the season from outside the area.

Bassett then had multiple chances from a series of corners in quick succession that should really have led to the second. But Kelly Nightingale headed narrowly wide, a Hurd pass across the face of goal was well cut out by Linteo, Laura Jefferies saw a shot saved by Linteo and two further corners resulted in goalmouth scrambles with Bassett unable to force the ball home.

Having rode their luck, the visitors then had two opportunities to level shortly before the interval but Powell was equal to Hannah Clarke's effort while a Hollie Handisides strike from beyond the area sailed just wide of the post.

Following the restart, Bassett created another string of openings that failed to yield another goal as Nat Goodright grazed the bar and Elliott and Tori Taylor both failed to locate the target.

Shortly after the hour though, there was finally some breathing space. And their second arrived in style as Hannah Gulliver opened her account for the season with an emphatic finish.

That second goal proved crucial as it seemed to knock the confidence out of their visitors. And for the remainder of the contest, Bassett were on top.

Yet a further half dozen openings didn't bring a third. Scott, Goodright, Elliott (on two occasions) and Hurd all had opportunities, while there was a further goalmouth scramble.

In the end, Bassett had to settle for just the two goals.

Importantly though, that was plenty to secure another three points

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 12th October 2025 at 20:59