Festive preview: Derby highlight of important Christmas period

It's going to be a vitally important Christmas period for Royal Wootton Bassett Town's Men's First Team as their Hellenic League Premier Division playoff prospects will be tested with two tough fixtures. The highlight is set to be the festive derby against local rivals Highworth Town at the Sustain Stadium on Wednesday 27 December (7.45pm kick off). Highworth edged the teams' earlier league meeting 1-0 on the August Bank Holiday weekend, with Bassett then triumphing on penalties after an entertaining 2-2 draw in their late November Wiltshire Premier Shield quarter final encounter. When they meet two days after Christmas, Bassett will be aiming to end a seven game league winless run against the Worthians - a streak containing three festive defeats which Highworth have won by a 13-0 aggregate score. Admission for the match is £7 for adults, £4 for concessions and free for RWBTFC youth members. As a derby between two high-flying sides vying for the playoffs, it promises to be a Christmas cracker. And we hope to see a bumper crowd - so please do come along! There's action prior to that this coming Saturday (23 December) too. In the Hellenic League Premier Division the Men's First Team face an always tricky trip to Longlevens (3pm). Sam Collier's side narrowly beat their Gloucester-based opponents 2-1 in a tight FA Vase second round encounter in November. And, although Bassett are unbeaten in their last six visits to Saw Mills End, Longlevens inflicted a 4-0 defeat the last time the sides met in the league at the Sustain Stadium in February. Meanwhile Saturday also sees the Development team in home action as Mark Simpkins' team entertains Wiltshire League Premier Division title hopefuls Kintbury Rangers (Gerard Buxton Sports Ground AGP, 2pm). Admission for the Development team fixture is £4 for adults, £2 for concessions and free for RWBTFC youth members.