Royal Wootton Bassett Town left it late to defeat basement dwellers Wokingham and Emmbrook, as Steve Olphert's instinctive finish secured a 2-1 victory and a move up to tenth in the table.
In recent years the Triangle Ground in Henley has tended to be a happy hunting ground for Royal Wootton Bassett Town. And that continued, with their latest visit to the Thames-side settlement, which pitted them against the Town side's tenants Wokingham and Emmbrook, ending in a 2-1 victory.
Bassett may have left it late to secure the points against the Hellenic League Premier Division's bottom side, Steve Olphert firing the winner as full time neared.
However, it was enough to lift Paul Braithwaite's team into the top half. Holding a game in hand over Highmoor Ibis - the side currently ninth and a point ahead of Bassett - there's scope to move higher too, which should be the aim with a series of winnable games on the horizon following next week's trip to FA Vase quarter finalists Kidlington.
On this afternoon, Bassett were made to work hard by Wokingham, who, despite being well adrift at the bottom, still proved to be competitive opponents.
Indeed it took a moment of great quality for the visitors to get their noses in front. Midway through the first half, a flowing move teed up Sam Packer, who produced a stunning strike from 25 yards for the game's opener.
A superb save from Curtis Meare to keep out Luke Scope's volley maintained Bassett's lead going into the break.
However the Bassett stopper, who was sent off the last time the teams met, was unable to keep out Elliot Rushforth's shot five minutes after the restart.
Although Bassett remained lively, the equaliser seemed to tip the balance of the game slightly in the hosts' favour as Scope in particular proved a threat.
At the other end a fine chance fell to substitute Harvey Scholes, who burst into the box after a dangerous counter only to be thwarted.
It was eventually left to fellow sub Olphert to determine the outcome of the game. With time winding down, a long ball forward was deflected into the midfielder's path and he took full advantage, picking out the bottom corner.
Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 6th February 2016 at 18:38
