The final game of the week in the North Wiltshire Veterans' Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League was on Thursday night when Swindon Rovers played host to Royal Wootton Bassett Town at Moredon.

When the two sides had met at the start of the season Bassett had won 2-0 and were looking to complete a league double that would see the climb up into third spot.

However, despite winning just two league games ahead of the fixture, Swindon Rovers came into the game unbeaten in their previous two games which included an excellent draw against one of the leading sides Redhouse.

Furthermore, the games they have lost this season have also tended to be close affairs as recognised by their goal difference relative to the other sides at the bottom end of the table and another close game was anticipated.

With both sides without their leading goalscorers, Bassett's Chris Head and Swindon Rovers' Taiwo Abolarin both missing the game, it was always possible that it would be a low scoring game, and it proved to be just that even though there was to be a very early goal.

The goal went the way of Bassett. Nick Mason won the ball just inside the opponent's half and then proceeded to go on a powerful run that saw him reach the edge of the 18-yard box unopposed, where he then turned two defenders before placing a shot across goal that just eluded the Rovers keeper and ended up in the back of the net for 1-0.

Rovers nearly got back on level terms almost straight away hitting the post with an effort.

At the other end Mason then had a good chance to get his second of the game when Bassett were awarded a free kick right on the edge of the box, but his effort was deflected to safety off the wall, and it remained 1-0 at the break.

The second half continued to be a cagey affair with few if any clear-cut chances being created by either side.

Bassett had claims for a penalty midway through the half when an arm across his face saw Sam Lawro go down in the box, but the appeals were waved away by the young referee.

Rovers continued to look to get back in the game and went close to an equaliser when a shot from distance was turned onto his crossbar by Bassett keeper Chris Stevens, with the ball then being cleared to safety before a Rovers player could react.

At the other end the visitors went close to getting a second of the game when they dispossessed Rovers in their own half, the ball finding its way to Lawro who laid a square pass to Martin Ohrland whose powerful shot from distance came back off the crossbar and was cleared to safety.

Rovers then went close to getting that elusive equaliser but another fine save by Stevens kept them out and helped ensure that it would be the visitors who returned home with all three points following a narrow 1-0 win in a sporting contest well officiated by the young referee.

The second win of the season over Rovers saw Bassett move up to third spot in the table, one point behind both Cricklade Town and Nationwide but having played one game more.

Credit: Mark Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 18th January 2026 at 21:22