FA Vase third round draw: Bassett to host Bridgwater

Royal Wootton Bassett Town have been handed a home draw against Bridgwater United in the Isuzu FA Vase third round. The tie is set to take place at the Sustain Stadium on Saturday 2 December. Having reached the last 64 for a third year in a row courtesy of their 2-1 victory at home against Longlevens, Sam Collier and his side will now seek to avoid a repeat of the heartbreak they have suffered at the third round stage in the past two seasons. In fact Bassett have narrowly fallen to sides who went on to reach the FA Vase semi finals, taking the lead only to lose 3-1 against Hamworthy United before defeat on penalties after a goalless draw against Corsham Town. If they are to make it third time lucky and reach the fourth round though then Bassett will have to overcome a Bridgwater team who, currently sitting top of the Western League Premier Division, have enjoyed a flying start to their campaign. They carried their league form into their first foray in the Vase in the second round too, seeing off Longwell Green Sports 4-2. The Robins are a side with great Vase pedigree too, having twice reached the fifth round - including last year when beaten by eventual winners Ascot United, while advancing to at least the third round in five of the last six seasons. They have also gone at least as far as the fourth round in three consecutive years and will be gunning to extend that streak to four when they visit Wiltshire in early December. A very tough contest is therefore in store for Bassett - perhaps the toughest draw Bassett could have had. But Collier and his team will do all they can to progress. Indeed Bassett pushed Bridgwater all the way when they met in Somerset at the Vase second round stage in 2020-21, with the Robins eking out a 2-1 victory. Here's hoping that the teams' second ever meeting will see a different outcome as Bassett - going in as underdogs - aim to write more Vase history. Up the Bass.