Nine man Bassett hold out for unlikely draw

Despite having to play the entire second half with just nine men, Royal Wootton Bassett Town claimed a vital point away at fellow Hellenic League Premier Division playoff contenders Sporting Club Inkberrow.

A late, late equaliser for the home side saw Bassett play out a second consecutive 1-1 draw to begin 2025.

And the result saw Sam Collier's side claim an important, yet seemingly highly unlikely point to boost their playoff hopes.

After three draws, two defeats and just the one victory in their last six fixtures, Bassett travelled to Inkberrow needing a result to strengthen their hopes of finishing in the top five.

A win would certainly have been the ideal outcome; such a result would have taken Bassett back above Inkberrow (who do hold two games in hand) as well as open up more of a gap over the handful of sides who currently sit just outside the playoff places.

Remarkably, the afternoon did almost end in victory as a Herculean defensive effort while two men short kept Inkberrow at bay for the vast majority of the second period.

Ultimately, however, the hosts snatched an equaliser to spare their blushes and retain fourth place.

Bassett had taken the lead just before the half hour mark when a counter attack culminated in Brad Pagliaroli taking an early shot that caught home 'keeper Gabriel Bajrami off guard and found the net.

While they took that lead into the break, Bassett did not go into the second half in a position of strength.

Instead two red cards shortly before the half time whistle made Inkberrow the clear favourites.

First, captain Adam Corcoran was dismissed after picking up a second yellow card. Moments later forward Kyle Tooze was shown red for kicking out at a home defender.

With their team ahead in a fixture of potentially vital importance, players of their experience should really know better.

But a phenomenal performance from the nine players who remained on the pitch helped bail them out - and ensured Bassett had something to show from the game.

Try as they might, Inkberrow just could not break Bassett down.

And their unbeaten run appeared set to come to an ignominious end.

Fortunately for the hosts - and agonisingly for Bassett, with minutes to spare Jay Higgins-Pugsley let rip from outside of the area with James Foster unable to keep his effort out.

In the circumstances in which they found themselves at the interval, a point is certainly something Bassett will happily take.

What a battling performance this was with the odds stacked against them.