Sustain Stadium, Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 4 December 2023

After a frustrating three week layoff, Royal Wootton Bassett Town returned to action with a routine 6-0 victory against South West Regional Women's Football League Division One Eastern basement side Ridgeway.

Adam Wood's side dominated their Dorset opponents - and if there was anything to bemoan at the end of the afternoon it was the fact that their margin of victory wasn't even more.

Bassett were in control throughout, creating chances early and often.

Twice before giving her side an early lead, Emma Sykes saw efforts saved by visiting 'keeper Lois Collins while Holly Baker also rattled the crossbar with a cross-cum-shot.

But the inevitable opener soon arrived through Sykes when a Laura Jefferies corner fell to her on the edge of the area and the midfielder picked out the top corner with a fine finish.

Collins could do little to prevent that effort. However the Ridgeway shotstopper continued to prove a thorn in Bassett's side. She saved from Maddy Elliott when the forward was through one-on-one, just about got something on the ball as Hannah Gulliver sought to place a shot through her legs and then pulled off a fine double save as Elliott, Gulliver and Baker all had a bite at the cherry but couldn't convert.

But her seemingly single-handed resistance was finally broken - and Bassett's patience rewarded - when Gulliver tapped in at the far post from an Elliott cross.

Opportunities continued to fall Bassett's way before the break but they were unable to extend their lead. After her sister Natalie struck over, Lucy Goodright placed wide before shooting straight at Collins. Elliott then shot against the bar when the ball found her unmarked in the box before Natalie Goodright failed to locate the target from the rebound.

The second half was then very much the same as the first. After a series of narrow misses, Elliott eventually made it 3-0 from a Caily Morse cut back.

Latching onto a Sykes pass, Elliott then teed up Jasmine Kennedy for her first goal of the season.

Four became five when Morse pounced on a loose ball from a dangerous corner.

Then, shortly after Kennedy saw an effort tipped onto the post by Collins, captain Jefferies made it six, firing into the top corner with a tight angled shot.

A result that was expected given the teams' respective league positions, Bassett next face a stern test away at fellow promotion contenders Stockwood Wanderers.

Last time they met in the Women's FA Cup, Bassett brought their scoring boots - here's hoping it will be the same in their first league meeting of the season having shaken off the rust accumulated over the past couple of weeks against Ridgeway.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 3rd December 2023 at 19:12