Southbank Ground, 5 September 2023

It's fair to say that since moving across to the Hellenic League, Corsham Town have had Royal Wootton Bassett Town's number. Four previous league meetings all ended in Corsham victories, while the Reds overcame Bassett on penalties in their FA Vase encounter last year.

And their first league contest of the 2023-24 season saw Bassett's dismal run against their Wiltshire rivals extend further with by far their heaviest defeat against the Reds.

A game pitting first against third, the match promised much between two of the form sides early in the season. Instead, however, it exposed the gap between the sides as Corsham ran out emphatic 7-1 winners.

Bassett's cause was not helped by having to play over an hour with ten men after Bailey Gallagher saw red for a rash lunge on Leon Greenland midway through the first half.

But by that point Sam Collier's side were already two goals down, with Corsham in command of the match.

The hosts led after just three minutes, Kane Simpson driving home from the edge of the box after Mark Cooper set the ball back for the forward.

Dan Price then made it 2-0 on ten minutes, rising highest to head home after James Rusby launched a long throw forward as the home side continued their lightning fast start.

After a brief lull, Gallagher's dismissal reignited the action. And Corsham were soon celebrating their third as Simpson conjured up a fine individual effort.

Bassett were at least able to get to half time without any further damage being done.

However their chastening night was to continue.

Good work from Shaquille Smith created an opportunity for Simpson to grab his hat trick shortly after the restart, but Harry Pickering did well to save at his feet.

His third - and his team's fourth - eventually arrived on the hour though with Simpson taking advantage of a loose pass out from the back.

Bassett did soon get a goal back as Matt Jones drilled home from the edge of the box.

But Corsham weren't finished yet. Price added his second of the night, heading in from a Rusby cross to make it 5-1.

Jones then saw an effort kept out late on, with Bassett unable to salvage any more than just the one consolation.

Insult was subsequently added to injury as Ryan Bath and Henry Sady both scored to make it 7-1 to Corsham.

After four straight league wins to start, Bassett have now suffered consecutive losses. In Highworth Town and Corsham, both have come against sides expecting to challenge towards the top.

Bassett therefore now know the levels they need to reach if they are to potentially replicate their top five finish from last season. In this fixture they were a long way off.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Tuesday 5th September 2023 at 21:54