Rampant Bassett race past Rovers

A clinical attacking display saw Royal Wootton Bassett Town continue their impressive Hellenic League Premier Division run with a thumping 4-0 home victory against Tuffley Rovers.

For the second consecutive league fixture, Bassett recorded a decisive win against a side in playoff contention. A fortnight ago, Bassett convincingly beat Westfields. This time Sam Collier's side put Tuffley - who had edged a 1-0 triumph when the sides met in Gloucestershire - to the sword.

The victory was big in more ways than one two as it put Collier and his team back into the playoff places - their four goal winning margin being enough to take Bassett narrowly ahead of Mangotsfield United on goal difference with the teams due to meet on Tuesday.

The key moment of the match came five minutes before the interval when Rovers' Tawana Changa earned a straight red card for a two-footed lunge on Bailey Gallagher.

The resulting free kick led to the opening goal, with Brad Pagliaroli riding two challenges before drilling a low effort past visiting 'keeper Robin Hoffland.

Prior to that the game had been one that quickly sprung into life midway through the first half after a somewhat tense opening.

Soon enough though both 'keepers were being brought into action with Bassett's James Foster doing well to tip a low Kieran Alder effort around the post. A stunning Ollie Case goalline block then denied Alder after he had rounded Foster with Connor Walters squandering the rebound as he blasted over to keep the game goalless.

Bassett had their chances too, but were unable to find a way past Hoffland - until they held a numerical advantage.