Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 18 February 2024

A Libby Davies hat trick helped Royal Wootton Bassett Town to a 4-2 home victory against Stockwood Wanderers - a result that moves Bassett to within touching distance of securing a top two finish in the South West Regional Women's Football League Division One Eastern.

The result means Adam Wood and his side need just a point from next week's fixture against Bath City to secure runners-up. Top spot, however, does now seem out of reach after Poole Town drew 2-2 with Purton in their final fixture. Had Bassett held on to beat Weymouth last week, they would be entering their final three games needing three wins for the title. Now though three wins will see Bassett match Poole's points total albeit with a goal difference deficit that would appear insurmountable.

For the third time against Stockwood this season, there were plenty of goals, though Bassett will be a little frustrated that their margin of victory was not as big as it had been in their two previous encounters.

Instead Stockwood were allowed to hang around and, despite leading for most of the afternoon, the game remained in the balance until late on when Maddy Elliott settled any nerves the hosts were feeling.

Bassett led as early as the eighth minute. Hannah Gulliver had already had a chance to open the scoring, firing over from an Honor Fraser cross. But Davies was the one to break the deadlock, coolly skipping past the last defender before slotting beyond Katie Whitmarsh in the Stockwood goal.

The home side were dominant the early exchanges but were unable to make the most of the pressure they were exerting.

And Stockwood soon equalised when Lauren Phillips teed up Grace Phillips, whose fine 25 yard effort had the better of Millie Powell and flew into the top corner.

Parity didn't last long though as Davies beat the offside trap and shot off the post and into the net.

She almost had a hat trick within the opening quarter of the game, heading Laura Jefferies' corner onto the post. The rebound fell for Gulliver who couldn't put the ball away from close range with Natalie Goodright also failing to convert when presented with a third bite of the cherry.

The Stockwood goal continued to live a charmed life as a double chance for Davies and Gulliver produced only a corner from which Amber Egerton shot just wide. Jefferies then hit the bar before the offside flag denied Gulliver after she raced onto a Davies through ball and had the ball in the net.

It was a similar story in the second half with more Bassett opportunities, yet no further goals, with Davies hitting the woodwork twice more.

Boasting the slenderest of leads, Bassett had to be on their guard - and Powell did well to save from Jodi May Hall before the home 'keeper tipped a Toni Blenkinsopp shot onto the bar.

Finally though the hosts made it 3-1 just after the hour as Davies head in from a Jefferies corner.

That goal stirred Stockwood into action and Jefferies had to be alert to clear off the line following a corner.

The visitors then reduced the deficit to just one goal again on 73 minutes as Sophie Morgan swung in a cross and Blenkinsopp deftly guided home at the near post.

That set up a potentially nervy ending. But Elliott gave Bassett breathing space, riding Libby Winstone's attempted challenge before tucking away.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 18th February 2024 at 20:01