Sustain Stadium, Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 12 November 2023

Rosie Burridge marked her competitive debut with a match winning brace as Royal Wootton Bassett Town secured a season double over local rivals Purton with a come from behind 3-1 derby victory.

Adam Wood's side were once again pushed hard by their near neighbours but ended the afternoon deserved winners to move level on points with second place Stockwood Wanderers in Division One Eastern of the South West Regional Women's Football League.

Bassett had trailed with less than quarter of an hour on the clock when home ballwatching in defence of a corner allowed an unmarked Jasmine Payne to get on the end of a corner and head into the back of the net.

That early goal woke Bassett up, however the hosts seemed set to go into the half time interval without having found an equaliser as, despite putting Purton under a fair amount of pressure, clear cut chances were few and far between.

Natalie Goodright had seen a shot saved by visiting 'keeper Thorhildur Sigthorsdottir. Save that shot though, Purton had done well to limit Bassett.

Eventually though a way through was found just a couple of minutes before the half time whistle blew. Laura Jefferies' corner was headed on by Holly Baker and, with Purton unable to clear, the ball fell to Goodright at the far post who steered in with a close range poacher's finish.

A lively second half then saw youngster Burridge determine the outcome of the game.

She put Bassett ahead shortly before the hour mark. After riding a challenge, Emma Sykes played a neat through ball forward, and Burridge nipped in just ahead of Sigthorsdottir, beating the 'keeper to the pass before coolly slotting between a pair of Purton defenders and into the net.

After Hannah Gulliver saw an effort blocked by Sigthorsdottir and Burridge found another Sykes pass just out of reach when well positioned, Bassett were almost caught out at the other end when Hayley Huckin found herself through on goal. However, the former Bassett forward was thwarted by a fantastic save from Millie Powell, who stood brave, taking a blow to the head in the process.

That proved a critial moment as shortly after Bassett had their third. Honor Fraser won possession, with the ball worked up to Gulliver who teed up Burridge for a neat finish.

Huckin had another chance for Purton to pull one back, but scuffed her shot when through on goal. That was to be the best Purton could muster for the remainder of the game.

Instead, Burridge had three further opportunities to add further gloss to a fantastic debut by completing her hat trick. However, Sigthorsdottir denied her when played through in behind the Purton defence, before Burridge sent two weighted efforts narrowly over the bar.

She had done enough damage though, providing a vital pair of goals that help keep Bassett's promotion tilt on the right track.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Friday 17th November 2023 at 16:04