Sustain Stadium, Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 5 December 2023

Royal Wootton Bassett Town advanced to the Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup quarter finals with a hard fought 2-1 victory against Clanfield.

While certainly not at their best - something to be expected given the energy-sapping effort that Sam Collier's team put into their FA Vase encounter with Bridgwater United on Saturday, Bassett did just enough to see off the challenge Hellenic League Division One high-flyers Clanfield posed.

A third consecutive cup fixture, this was the first of those trio of matches not to be decided via the lottery of a penalty shootout. Nevertheless, penalties still played a decisive role in determining the game's outcome, with two of the game's three goals scored from the spot.

After a goalless opening period, Clanfield went ahead when George Seacole made no mistake from twelve yards out.

Bassett were soon on level terms though, Connor Waldon heading home his sixth of the season.

That goal initially gave Waldon the outright lead at the top of the scoring charts for Bassett.

However, by the end of the night he was back to sharing top spot, as Alfie Presley confidently swept home what proved to be a match-winning penalty late on.

Although not tasting victory in the tie they'd have wanted to win most of all, two cup wins out of three in the past week is certainly not too shabby a record.

And now with a quarter final to look forward to, as well as the Wiltshire Premier Shield semi final, Bassett are certainly well placed to finally break their long 23 season wait for a cup final appearance.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 9th December 2023 at 06:36