No cup upset as Railwaymen book ticket for next round

Sustain Stadium, Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 17 August 2024

There's to be no extended Emirates FA Cup run for Royal Wootton Bassett Town after Sam Collier's side fell to a 2-0 preliminary round defeat against Didcot Town.

Surprise winners against the Railwaymen at this stage of the competition four years ago, Bassett were unable to recapture that magical afternoon as Didcot controlled proceedings more or less from start to finish.

The Southern League side offered little to their hosts as a professional performance earned them a place in the hat for Monday's first qualifying round draw.

Indeed, Bassett were contained to the extent that they rarely threatened the Didcot goal. Instead the action was largely concentrated inside Bassett territory with the visitors creating numerous chances throughout.

That they only converted two was testament to a relatively robust defensive performance from Bassett. But given the pressure they came under, goals were an inevitability.

It took Didcot twenty minutes to open the scoring.

Dylan Conlan and Jim Glover had narrowly missed the target in the early stages. On the quarter hour mark Josh Davis forcing a save from James Foster, the rebound for which fell to Conlan who could only find the side netting.

But the Railwaymen's pressure soon told, though Bassett will be disappointed at the nature of the opener, a defensive error allowing Luke Preen to tee up Davis for a straightforward finish.

Didcot continued to push forward and their second arrived on 30 minutes as Glover finished off a surging run to cap a fine solo effort.

Following the restart Bassett were able to apply some pressure but the visitors' defence ensured 'keeper Leigh Bedwell's goal stayed out of danger.

At the other end Didcot continued to prove but lacked the cutting edge to completely kill off the tie.

Davis and Glover just failed to find the target with a pair of chances in quick succession before Foster pulled off a fine save to deny Davis.

As the game entered its final stages Preen brought Foster into action again with the Bassett 'keeper proving equal to the task.

Finally with the game on the verge of stoppage time Bassett forced Bedwell into action but the Didcot shotstopper was able to turn Ollie Pitt's free kick around the woodwork.

Bassett's hopes of an extended run in a national competition now rest on the Isuzu FA Vase - which they'll enter in the first round in October.

Their lengthy homestand to begin the season is now over too, with attentions turning to improving Bassett's early position in the Hellenic League Premier Division standings as they begin a series of three straight away games.