Sustain Stadium, Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 25 February 2024

Natalie Goodright's stoppage time equaliser delivered what Royal Wootton Bassett Town needed to seal runners-up spot in the South West Regional Women's Football League Division One Eastern as Adam Wood's side dramatically snatched a home point against Bath City.

Courtesy of Tara Taylor's long range effort early in the second half, Bath had seemed on their way to a victory that would have kept alive their slim hopes of overhauling Bassett.

However, in controversial circumstances, Goodright struck to seal a 1-1 draw. With Bassett's hopes of taking something from the game hanging on a thread, captain Laura Jefferies swung in a corner which Libby Davies appeared to handle. Unsighted given the number of bodies in the box, the referee failed to notice the infraction, and the loose ball fell to Goodright who gladly fired home.

The visitors - who travel to the Sustain Stadium again next week in the cup - were furious at the full time whistle as they were denied a league double over Bassett.

In truth Bath were probably worthy of the win, with Bassett short of their best - especially in the second half. And it's such performances that have arguably been the reason as to why Bassett will have to settle for second place in the league with Poole Town now crowned champions.

The first half was a relatively quiet one with limited chances for either team. The best opportunities of period all fell to Davies, who first brought a save out of Sadie Farley before seeing a goal ruled out after Maddy Elliott - whose effort was parried into Davies' path - adjudged to have been offside. Davies then struck wide of the target after benefiting from an error from Eve Trivett.

Bassett had the first chance of the second half when Jefferies struck a free kick straight at Farley.

But Bath were ahead shortly after. On 49 minutes Emilia Bellotti's free kick was only cleared as far as Taylor and, from 25 yards out, she rifled an effort into the top corner past Millie Powell.

The teams exchanged opportunities for the rest of the half. Hannah Gulliver failed to find the target with a lobbed effort when in behind the Bath defence. Ashley Harris tried her luck from range at the other end but shot wide. Elliott saw a half volley deflected into Farley's hands. Bath's Emily Dellow then swung in a dangerous cross that an unmarked Mollie Harvey failed to convert.

Neither side thus looked as though they were going to alter the scoreline any further.

But Bassett received a helping hand as stoppage time neared its end as Goodright's goal salvaged a draw and secured the point her team needed to guarantee runners-up.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 25th February 2024 at 19:14