Sustain Stadium, Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 17 February 2024
Royal Wootton Bassett Town reached the sixty point mark as they recorded a second successive 3-0 home Hellenic League Premier Division win, this time seeing off Wantage Town.
Sam Collier's side's patience paid off as it took them time to eventually put away the division's basement dwellers. While still rooted to the bottom of the table, Wantage were improved on the outfit who Bassett thumped 4-0 away back in August.
Back then Bassett held a comfortable 2-0 advantage at the break. On this occasion, however, the teams played out a goalless first half. The gulf between the sides was evident with Bassett largely on top. But Wantage were well organised, compact and difficult to break down.
And it took a set piece goal - and a moment of sheer quality at that - for the deadlock to finally be broken with around an hour gone.
For the second game in a row Jack Hobson-McVeigh scored direct from a free kick. From the left edge of the area, he bent a sublime 25 yard effort into the top corner which Wantage 'keeper Thomas Rees could not get near to despite a despairing dive.
A slice of fortune then played a part in Bassett's second as Mason Muckelberg clumsily turned Alfie Presley's dangerous low ball into the six yard box into his own net.
2-0 in front, Bassett were now in control and it was clear there was only going to be one winner.
There was still time to add to the score though - and Presley did just that. Hobson-McVeigh swung a fine free kick delivery into the box from the right side and, in amongst a crowd, Presley was on hand to steer home from twelve yards.
Given the tough run of fixtures Bassett have coming up to end the season, this was a must win match. And Collier and his team more than delivered.
The games now get more difficult for the rest of the campaign - but with the form they are in, Bassett will be eyeing not just a spot in the top five, but a third place finish - which would be enough to guarantee a home playoff fixture.
Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 17th February 2024 at 18:50
