Five-star Bassett record statement win

Royal Wootton Bassett Town sent a signal of intent to their fellow South West Regional Women's Football League Division One North title contenders with an emphatic 5-0 victory against Whitchurch.

Whitchurch, newly promoted from the Gloucestershire County Women's League, entered the latest round of fixtures in top spot having won seven and lost just one of their opening eight games.

But James Lally's side brought them back down to earth with a bang, taking the lead ten minutes before the break before adding four unanswered goals after the restart to close the gap to their opponents to just two points with a pair of games in hand.

In an even start to the game, Whitchurch actually came close to breaking the deadlock when Ilarna Nche sent a towering 25 yards free kick crashing onto the bar, with the Bassett defence forced to scramble clear.

But it was to be Bassett who eventually took the lead shortly after the half hour mark. Laura Jefferies had a second bite at the cherry after her corner was cleared back to her. And she placed a perfect first time cross from the right hand side into the heart of the six yard box where Briony Hurd was on hand to meet the ball and steer home.

And the hosts then came close to doubling their lead as smart footwork from Elle Scott opened up space for the midfielder to shoot. Her left foot arrow seemed destined for the bottom corner only for Whitchurch 'keeper Sophia Isaac to dive low to her right and fist the ball away.

Bassett didn't hang around in the second half though.

And Honor Fraser's quickfire brace saw the hosts stamp their authority on the game.

As with Bassett's first, Jefferies played a key role in the build up to both her side's second and third.

She crossed for an unmarked Fraser to make it 2-0 as the midfielder slotted home from close range after an initial heavy touch.

Another Jefferies corner led to Bassett's third. Whipped into the six yard box, the visitors failed to clear their lines and Fraser produced a delicate finish into the left corner.

A fine 20-yard finish from Scott extended Bassett's lead further. Excellent pressing forced Whitchurch to concede possession deep in their own territory, with Isaac's attempred clearance falling to Scott. More silky footwork from the midfielder then fashioned room to shoot and she produced a perfectly weighted strike that looped in over the 'keeper.

Tori Taylor then completed the scoring late on. Megan Young and Maddy Elliott did well to keep play alive and, after the ball came back out off the bar, Taylor was alert to net from the rebound.

Results elsewhere mean that despite their impressive victory Bassett remain fourth. But they are now within two points of top spot.

For Bassett the task now is to maintain the momentum - and undefeated record - they have built and carry that into the Christmas break.

Two potential trap games await prior to that though, the first a visit to bottom side AFC Brislington before an away trip to Downend Flyers, who Bassett have found the going tough against recently, eking out a 1-0 home win earlier in the season after drawing 2-2 on their travels last year.