Winning run ends with frustrating derby defeat

Save On Tyres Stadium, 28 August 2023

Royal Wootton Bassett Town lost for their first time in the Hellenic League Premier Division this season as Highworth Town edged an evenly contested derby 1-0.

Having won three of their previous four league games by just a single goal - with consecutive 1-0 victories, Sam Collier's side were served a taste of their own frustrating medicine as Josh Davies' early goal determined the outcome of a tense encounter.

While the first meeting of the two teams in five years was not necessarily a classic, the outcome hung in the balance right until the end as Bassett pushed - ultimately in vein - for a share of the spoils that would not have been undeserved.

But the woodwork - twice - and some fine goalkeeping served to keep the visitors at bay, preserving victory for Highworth.

The game's decisive moment came after 18 minutes when Josh Davis steered in first time from a Connor Mattimore cross after Sean Wood's sweeping pass out wide to Mattmore stretched the Bassett defence.

There has been little between the teams up until that point - and it remained that way throughout much of the remainder of the match.

Indeed Bassett arguably had the better of the remaining goalscoring opportunities with Matt Jones and Sam Packer both hitting the post shortly before the interval before Connor Waldon saw a seemingly goalbound 89th minute effort kept out by a fine Connor Johns save.

Bassett's frustrations at not being able to salvage something from the match then showed in stoppage time when Kai Robinson received a second yellow card.

A first league setback, Bassett now go again next Tuesday and will seek to bounce back in another derby against Corsham Town, the new occupants of top spot in the division.