A point to be pleased with

Just a fortnight after an emphatic 3-0 home defeat against the side, a much improved Royal Wootton Bassett Town held on to claim a point in a 1-1 draw at Hartpury University.

Buoyed by the return of midfield talisman Chris Taylor after a lengthy layoff, Sam Collier's put in a battling display to earn what will no doubt be seen as a handy, valuable point against one of the Hellenic League Premier Division's form sides.

Given the outcome of their recent meeting in Wiltshire too, it's a result that at the start of the afternoon Bassett would have been more than happy to take.

Bassett had led in the match. Five minutes before half time, Chris Zebroski headed a long ball over the top into the path of Alfie Presley who produced a measured lob that had the beating of Steve Sarkodie in the hosts' net.

That goal arrived after a closely fought opening period which Hartpury had narrowly edged. However, unlike in Wiltshire, they were unable to make the breakthrough.

Their best two chances fell to Nathan Jenkins, but he first saw a well struck volley denied by a good save from debutant Bassett Joel Manning before shooting straight at the 'keeper after a beat interchange with Louis Manning opened up space to shoot.

Hartpury did get on terms soon after the restart. Manning charged down the left before crossing into the box with the ball eventually falling to Solomon Kent who fired in.

Hartpury then were the most threatening of the teams for the remainder of the match though the Bassett defence held firm despite the hosts exerting an increasing amount of pressure as the clock wound down.

That ensured Bassett gained a point that they will be content with. And with a pair of home games to come against Cirencester Town and Lydney Town - who Bassett should see themselves as favourites to beat - there's now the prospect of finishing September with ten points from twelve.