For the second time this season Fairford Town's Reuben Githua stung Royal Wootton Bassett Town in stoppage time.

While the teams' latest meeting did not end in defeat for Bassett, their failure to hold out for victory after taking the lead late on through George Cook, was another big blow.

Indeed, this was a derby encounter that Bassett were desperate to win in their fight to secure their Hellenic League Premier Division status.

Cribbs' unfortunate withdrawal from the division earlier in the week had benefited Bassett with a number of teams above them losing the points they had gained against the Bristol-based side. Fairford were among the teams affected, meaning their lead over Bassett was cut from seven points to just four.

And that meant that going into their meeting at the Swindon Mercedes Stadium, Jonny Aitkenhead's side had the chance to reduce their deficit to the Reds to just a single point.

However, after a tightly contested derby that opened up in the second period before springing into life late on, that opportunity went begging.

The opening half saw the teams more or less cancel each other out. Evenly matched, there was little real action in front of goal - a recurring theme for Bassett who, in their 19 league games to date have scored just four times before the interval.

Fairford had the first good opening of the match when Githua got the better of Kian McNally on the left and crossed for an unmarked Xavi Diaz-Butcher at the far post but, fortunately for Bassett, he skewed way over.

At the other end Harrison Edwards saw a low drive flash wide after Tino Shumba cut inside and rode a couple of challenges. But neither goalkeeper was properly tested before the teams changed ends.

The pace picked up after the restart and Bassett had two fantastic chances early on.

First Ed Oatley stung the palms of Ben Mitchell with a fierce drive from the edge of the box after intricate build play involving Brooklyn Leipus.

A quick break from Bassett then saw Shumba play through Ed Taylor but the veteran shotstopper Mitchell was alert, coming off his line to save at the feet of the Bassett forward when one-on-one.

At the other end 'keeper Ronnie Newbery parried away from Dylan Griffin's shot on the turn after a long throw into the box.

Bassett then struck the bar as a screamer of a 20 yard effort from Tino Shumba had Mitchell well beaten but rattled the woodwork.

Ten minutes later it was Fairford's turn to hit the frame of the goal as Githua raced onto a diagonal ball into the left corner before cutting inside Ellis Day and shooting with his right foot from a tight angle.

The game seemed on its way to a goalless draw despite an eventful second half.

But with 88 minutes on the clock a headed clearance from a Shumba cross fell into the lap of super sub George Cook and he showed excellent technique to drill a first time effort from the edge of the area into the bottom corner.

Fairford responded by throwing everything they had at Bassett. And with stoppage time inching towards its end Githua, who seemed at one point to have lost possession, showed excellent footwork and determination before sending a rasping drive from the left edge of the box into the opposite corner.

Fairford may have merited a point, but it was a cruel blow for Bassett.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 14th November 2026 at 22:06