It may not have been their best performance of the season so far. And it may have come courtesy of a gift of an injury time winner. But, finally, Royal Wootton Bassett Town have their first victory of the 2026-27 season on the board.

Seizing on a defensive mix-up, Freddie Wyatt scored the only goal of the game as Bassett edged out fellow embattled side Droitwich Spa in a tense Hellenic League Premier Division clash.

His goal, shortly before the final whistle, was met with great joy - and a sense of relief - from Bassett players, management and supporters.

It came after a match which had seen Bassett in the ascendancy in the first half only for momentum to switch following the restart. And a strong defensive display and outstanding performance from young goalkeeper Josh Sawyer kept the visitors at bay before Wyatt was able to pounce.

After a relatively slow start, the ever lively Finn Hopkins had the opening pair of chances of the match, firing just past the post with a low 20 yard strike after a Louis Spalding cross was only half cleared. He then forced 'keeper Dom Roberson into a low save with a snatched effort after Nat Bell's well timed tackle forced a turnover in possession inside Droitwich territory.

Ed Taylor also had a pair of chances for the hosts. Moved back into his preferred midfield role, the youngster shot narrowly over from thirty yards. He then hit straight at Rogerson from the edge of the area when well placed after Bassett's pressing again gained the ball deep in the Droitwich half.

The teams went into the break with the scores deadlocked. Bassett had been the more threatening of the two sides but that was soon to shift as the visiting Saltmen came into life.

There were early signs of what was to come as Archie Thurston saw a deflected shot go over after beating Jack Coward to a 50-50 while James Lemon fashioned space in the box with a clever turn only to find the side netting .

A string of assured saves in a short space of time from Sawyer then followed.

First he did well to keep out from substitute Sam Hurdman, tipping wide the forward's near post effort after a left wing cross bounced around the box. The resulting corner from Perry Moss fell to Hurdman on the edge of the box and his arrowed effort stung the 'keeper's palms.

Another low save from Hurdman followed. Lemon set George Clayton free in the left channel. His low cutback across the face of goal fell to an unmarked Hurdman whose side foot effort from twelve yards was brilliantly parried.

Play switched briefly to the other end where a stinging Hopkins drive went just wide before Wyatt beat the offside trap and saw his tight angled strike denied by the feet of Rogerson.

Soon enough though Sawyer was forced into action again. He stood tall to hold from Cory Rudd's shot from the edge of the area before watching as Hubert Zatorski lifted narrowly over from a great position.

With six minutes to go Sawyer made another outstanding stop - perhaps his best of the game. Moss picked Hopkins' pocket and immediately set Thurston in behind with a fine through ball. A goal seemed a given. However, in a one-on-one situation, Sawyer kept his composure to narrow the angle and save with his feet.

Then with 90 minutes on the clock a quick free kick put Moss through on goal but he struck over.

That was the first chance of a hectic injury time as both sides sought not to settle for a draw.

At the other end Kian McNally flashed a header just over from a Spalding corner after a last ditch tackle had robbed Hopkins of a one-on-one chance. Droitwich's Hurdman also failed to find the target with a headed effort from a deep cross.

It thus appeared as though the teams would have to settle for a point apiece - an unsatisfactory outcome for both teams given their early season predicament.

But in trying to deal with a seemingly innocuous Spalding ball over the top, centre half Sam Carey collided with Rogerson, presenting Wyatt with an open goal, which he coolly slotted into from an angle.

It was the kind of fortune that Bassett, down on their luck in the opening weeks of the season, needed.

However, the game was not yet finished. And one last opportunity fell to Droitwich but safe hands Sawyer was equal to Curtis Smith's curling effort from the edge of the box.

Nine competitive fixtures so far this campaign had yielded just two draws - with that agonising run adding to the nine games at the back end of last season in which Bassett had also failed to win.

At last though, ten games in, that stretch is over - and Jonny Aitkenhead's side can now focus on the hard work of starting a positive run of results and climbing the table.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 12th September 2026 at 23:14