Bassett spot on to win Premier Shield derby
Save On Tyres Stadium, 29 November 2023
Royal Wootton Bassett Town began their series of three consecutive cup ties with victory on penalties against local rivals Highworth Town in the Wiltshire Premier Shield quarter finals.
Sam Collier's side edged the shootout 4-3 after the game finished 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes, an eventful final quarter of the match having produced three goals and a red card.
With FA Vase third round ties to play on Saturday, giving its scheduling the Premier Shield fixture may perhaps have been of secondary importance for both teams as they prepare to aim for success on the national stage.
But with a semi final place at stake - guaranteed to be against higher level opposition, it was a game well worth trying to win. Victory ultimately belonged to Bassett.
In the opening half it was Highworth who were the more creative. But the hosts failed to find a breakthrough.
And when Bassett were awarded a penalty on the half hour mark, Jack Hobson-McVeigh made them pay, coolly slotting his spot kick past Connor Johns and into the back of the net.
It took until twenty minutes to go for Highworth to grab their first equaliser, with Josh Davis getting a toe to Riegan Cook's free kick and steering in at the front post.
That set up a hectic finish.
Jowan Partridge struck a fine effort from the edge of the box, his first senior goal restoring Bassett's lead. However that didn't last long as Michael Miller quickly made it 2-2.
Bassett also had to deal with going down to ten men with Dave Bampton dismissed for a lunge shortly before Miller struck.
Fortunately for Bassett, Highworth did not have enough time to make the extra man count meaning penalties were needed to settle the tie.
And in the shootout Bassett held their nerve to triumph.
Highworth were unable to take advantage of having the first kick as Davis saw his penalty saved by Rob Brown.
There followed seven successful penalties, with Tommy Ouldridge, Alan Griffin, Bailey Gallagher and Josh Timbrell scoring for Bassett and Dan Grieve, Cook and Tom Griffiths converting for Highworth.
That left it up to Miller to keep his side in the tie, but Brown kept his effort out to give Bassett victory.