Sustain Stadium, Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 28 October 2023
Royal Wootton Bassett Town climbed back into the top five of the Hellenic League Premier Division with a narrow 2-1 home victory against Hereford Lads Club.
Proving how competitive the division is from the top down towards the bottom, Bassett were made to work hard for their latest victory against a Lads Club side who started the afternoon in 16th place.
The visitors may be closer to the bottom than they wish, but given they went into the game boasting a goal difference of just minus three, it is clear that their position is something of a false one.
And, as ever, they proved tricky customers. However goals from Louis Spalding and Connor Waldon ultimately got the job done for Sam Collier and his side.
Although having slightly the better of the opening exchanges, in truth the contest was relatively evenly matched during the opening period.
But the hosts got their noses in front ten minutes before the interval. A short free kick was played to Tommy Ouldridge and he slipped a clever pass through to Waldon who dragged his attempted shot from the right edge across the face of goal. Spalding had gambled though and was on hand to tap in at the left post.
Bassett then doubled their lead ten minutes after the restart. Patient play between Sam Packer and Bailey Gallagher opened up space for the former to deliver a fine cross from the right wing, and Waldon ran across the face of his marker before glancing a header into the bottom left corner.
There was still plenty of time left in the game though, and, after the crossbar denied Alfie Presley a third, Bassett were made to sweat a little late on when Rob Whitlock pulled one back with ten minutes to go, steering in a cool side foot volley.
But Bassett saw out the remaining time, sealing three points that, with Pershore Town and Slimbridge both inactive and having surprisingly lost their most recent fixtures, lifts Collier's team up two places.
Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 29th October 2023 at 10:59
