A battling display from Royal Wootton Bassett Town earned a hard fought 1-1 draw away at Cinderford Town as Jonny Aitkenhead's side saw out the final half hour despite having ten men.

For the third time this season a Bassett player saw red - this time Kian McNally was sent for an early shower, receiving a second yellow card on the hour mark after having only been introduced as a substitute with ten minutes to go in the opening period.

However, his teammates rallied, in particular young 'keeper and Bassett player of the match Josh Sawyer, and saw the remainder of the game out to claim a much needed point.

The trip to the Forest of Dean was not exactly what Bassett, in need of a positive result, may have wanted after their start to the season. Indeed, Cinderford went into the match on the back of three straight wins, including away victories at Droitwich Spa and Hallen, and will have been eyeing up a fourth.

But a spirited Bassett performance frustrated the hosts in that quest.

The visitors made a fantastic start, taking the lead through Louis Spalding with seven minutes on the clock - a goal that brought Bassett's run of four straight games without finding the net to an end.

Ed Taylor received the ball in space on the right edge of the box and sought to shoot. Snatching at his effort, it turned into a pass across the face of goal and picked out an unmarked Spalding, who quickly took a touch before firing past Jude Franks.

Bassett almost doubled their lead midway through the half when Finn Hopkins slipped in Freddie Wyatt, whose low, tight angle effort was well kept out by Franks on the dive.

A nasty clash of heads between Wyatt and Sam Sullivan then led to a lengthy stoppage in play that saw the Bassett frontman forced to withdraw.

When play resumed, Bassett had Sawyer to thank for preserving their lead. He made two assured saves in a matter of moments, first denying Harry Leeson with his feet after he had been slipped in by Jack Watts' clever reverse pass. Cinderford were then able to recycle the ball and Watts this time found himself goalside but Sawyer was quick off his line to parry away.

Shortly after Bassett, who had only three subs, were forced into another change when Harry Messenger picked up a knock and was replaced by McNally.

Cinderford continued to hold the slight upper hand and Sawyer twice denied Tom Chamberlain before the break, saving low from a shot on the angle just inside the area before getting a firm glove to a long range strike.

In between those efforts Hopkins had dragged across the face of goal at the other end. Then with half time looming Harrison Edwards lifted a ball over the top for Ed Taylor to run onto, though, not helped by an awkward bounce, he failed to trouble the target with just Franks to beat.

Bassett would head into the break ahead, but their lead didn't last long after the restart.

Watts had came close early on when he beat the offside trap only to see Jack Coward clear off the line and Sawyer tip away his second attempt.

At the other end Nat Bell hooked narrowly wide after a neat move down the left side.

Twelve minutes into the second half McNally was penalised for a rather soft looking foul in Tom Chamberlain in the box and Jack Watts put the resulting penalty into the bottom right corner, sending Sawyer the wrong way.

Back level, Cinderford were then seemingly gifted momentum in the game when McNally, still frustrated by the penalty decision that went against him, picked up his second yellow for a tug on Watts, making his cameo a short lived one.

There were a couple of later scares, including Watts shooting wide of the left post and Sawyer dealing well with an awkward Kian Davies strike. But Bassett ultimately closed ranks and adroitly managed the final half hour to ensure a share of the spoils.

A first win of the season still eludes Bassett. But this was a step in the right direction, with two opportunities to grab that first set of three points to come over the bank holiday weekend.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 23rd August 2026 at 00:00