Late comeback snatches vital win

Mundy Playing Fields, 20 August 2024

With their visit to Thornbury Town entering the closing stages, Royal Wootton Bassett Town appeared headed for a fourth defeat in their opening five Hellenic League Premier Division games. A poor first half display had seen Sam Collier's injury-ravaged side fall behind and, while on top for most of the second period, Bassett had been unable to get back on terms.

Their cause wasn't helped either by the fact that, with quarter of an hour to go, they were temporarily reduced to ten men after Ollie Case was sent to the sin bin.

A further set back in what has been a highly frustrating opening month of the campaign in more ways than one appeared imminent.

But salvation soon arrived.

On 80 minutes a defensive error from the home side presented Finn Hopkins with a golden opportunity, and the young forward kept his cool, producing a composed finish to make it 1-1.

A point - though not the best outcome against a side who finished just outside of the relegation zone last season - would have been ideal and perhaps something that Bassett, still missing seven first team regulars, would have settled for.

Instead, Collier and his team wound up snatching all three points. With four minutes of the allotted 90 remaining the ball was worked out to Tom Moore on the wing and he fizzed in a low ball across the face of goal which a home defender could only turn into his own net.

It was certainly an unfortunate way for Thornbury to lose. But Bassett will take the points, however they may ultimately have arrived.

Defeat would have left Bassett languishing in 16th place. With victory though they are up to 13th and, most importantly, back within touching distance of the upper reaches of the table despite the difficulties they have endured in the opening weeks of the campaign.

Thornbury had led for the vast majority of the game and were certainly deservedly in front at the interval.

They went ahead after just 12 minutes, doing so in style. A neat move culminated with the ball being worked into the feet of Luke Franklin. After taking a touch to compose himself, he lashed an unstoppable effort from 25 yards out into the top corner beyond James Foster in the Bassett goal.

The hosts should then have doubled their advantage on 20 minutes. Sloppy play at the back saw Bassett turn over possession deep inside their own territory. Fraser Moss had an initial bite at the cherry. His shot was off target but fell to Isaac Adebo at the far post, who cut the ball back across goal for Callum Chalmers. Chalmers failed to connect with the goal at his mercy, but Ash Fowler still had a chance which he put wide.

Chalmers then headed narrowly wide from a Marcus Wormwell cross.

By this point a quarter of the game had elapsed and Bassett were on the ropes. Finally getting into the match, they quietened the hosts before getting on top of proceedings after the restart.

Still that didn't seem as though it would be enough. However, even though a man short, Bassett swung things around with their vital late, late showing.