Comeback scuttles Raiders
Sixways Stadium, 13 January 2024
Royal Wootton Bassett Town reached the half century mark as a dramatic late comeback earned Sam Collier's side a hugely impressive 2-1 victory away at Worcester Raiders.
A lively fixture whose outcome was always in the balance with both teams pushing the other hard ultimately fell Bassett's way after Alfie Presley converted a somewhat contentious penalty with seven minutes remaining.
While Raiders - whose eighth loss in nine games leaves their Hellenic League Premier Division playoff chances hanging by a thread - felt hard done by the decision, Bassett will care little as their march to the playoffs continued apace.
Collier's team now sit on 51 points, with a healthy ten point cushion separating them from Fairford Town - the team currently occupying sixth and the first team on the outside looking in of a playoff spot.
Even more impressively, third place Bassett - who, if the season finished today would be guaranteed a home playoff semi final - are now seven points clear of Roman Glass St George in fourth.
Like most of their 16 league wins to date this season, Bassett's latest triumph was of the hard fought variety.
The visitors started the brighter of the two teams, though Raiders were probing too.
And it would be the hosts who found themselves in front when Kyri Kourouyiann rose highest to head home a free kick on 25 minutes.
Raiders took their advantage into the break and held onto it for a healthy part of the second half.
But Tommy Ouldridge eventually equalised on 67 minutes, blasting in after home 'keeper Jack Oxenham could only bay away Bailey Gallagher's low cross into the box.
That set up a tense, exciting finish. Both teams were desperate to find a winner - Raiders to try and keep their season alive, Bassett to further solidify their top five status.
The second half had already been a physical battle and both teams continued to push.
The hosts thought they had the lead with quarter of an hour to go but Jordan Wilkins' effort whistled just past the post.
Soon after they were behind with Bassett awarded a penalty and leading scorer Presley keeping his nerve to ultimately settle the contest.
Bassett now return to the Sustain Stadium for an exciting three game homestand, starting with Tuesday's fixture against Tuffley Rovers and ending with the return match against Westfields on 27 January.
Title favourites Worcester City visit next Saturday too for a top of the table clash. That a fixture Bassett are involved in at this stage of the season can be described as such shows just how well the team have been performing. Long may that continue as the campaign nears its closing stages.