County Ground, 1 January 2024

Royal Wootton Bassett Town started 2024 the same way they finished 2023: with victory away in Hereford.

While Saturday's triumph against Pegasus was by the narrowest of margins, their New Year's Day 4-1 win at Lads Club was altogether more convincing.

Neither the lengthy back to back journeys nor the typical festive squad absences conspired against Sam Collier's side as they impressively took maximum points from a pair of opponents who both possess solid home records.

Against Lads Club, unavailability forced Collier to call in a favour from old friend Kyle Tooze - now player-manager at Southern League Division One South Paulton Rovers. Both he and fellow Paulton player Dan McBeam featured in the starting eleven - and both found the net in their guest appearances.

It was Tooze who got Bassett going within the opening fifteen minutes, scoring shortly after Rob Brown did well to deny Rob Whitlock's header at the other end.

While Lads Club then came close again when a corner was tipped onto the bar, Bailey Gallagher ensured the visitors would go into the break with a 2-0 lead that, based on the pressure they were applying to the hosts, they more than deserved.

Brandon Jennings got Lads Club back into the game on the hour mark. And the hosts were sniffing a comeback when Bassett 'keeper Brown found himself sent to the sin bin with Luke Softley taking over in goal while Collier's team temporarily found themselves down to ten men.

But what could have spelled disaster for Bassett turned out to be no real bother. McBeam restored the team's two goal advantage and Softley safely saw out his time between the sticks.

Bassett's successful afternoon was then rounded off in the closing stages as substitute Josh Timbrell netted his first for the club to make it 4-1.

Bassett thus got off to a perfect start in what on paper is a set to be a challenging first month of the new year. Back up to third in the Hellenic League Premier Division - a position they relinquished after their festive loss to Highworth Town, the team's playoff push remains firmly on track.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Monday 1st January 2024 at 18:03