ROYAL Wootton Bassett Town beat Torpoint Athletic 2-0 on Saturday to reach the third round of the FA Vase for the first time in the club’s history.
Goals from John Mills and Gio Wrona either side of the break saw Sam Collier’s side deservedly beat their South West Peninsula League Premier Division East counterparts at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground.
Reacting to a historic day for the football club, Bassett’s manager revealed he was absolutely delighted to see his team progress.
Collier said: “We’re hugely delighted with the result. A lot of preparation and organisation went into making sure we wouldn’t go into the game blind and we knew as much about Torpoint as possible.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult game, we were expected to win the first three games in the Vase, but we knew last Saturday was going to be extremely difficult.
“It was, but we controlled the game, never gave them an opportunity to score, and we took our chances – we’re delighted to be through.”
After beating Knaphill, Portishead Town, Downton, and now Torpoint by an aggregate scoreline of 10-1 in the preceding rounds, Bassett have been drawn at home once again to face Hamworthy United in round three.
The Hammers - who play in the Wessex League Premier Division - are yet to lose outside of cup competitions, and Collier is aware just how tough a task this will be for his men – but regardless, the Bassett boss wants to keep progressing.
He said: “We just want to get as far as we can. The club has never been this far, so that’s pleasing to break that record.
“I think we’ve had something like 21 attempts in this competition, and to get this far as one of 64 teams left in this national competition is fantastic for us.
“We’re ready to continue now, we’ve got another tough task ahead of us, but it’s one we’re very much looking forward to.”
Elsewhere, in Southern League Division One South, Highworth Town shocked leaders Frome Town thanks to an Ash Edenborough goal at the Save on Tyres Stadium.
The Worthians scored the only goal in the 24th minute to inflict Frome’s first league defeat of the season and move up to seventh.
Meanwhile, in Southern League Premier South, Swindon Supermarine lost 3-1 at home to Yate Town despite a late Kieran Phillips strike.
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