RINGING the changes paid dividends for Dave Terry and his Royal Wootton Bassett Town Reserves side as they recorded a 1-0 win over Devizes Town Reserves on Saturday.

Scoring goals has not been an issue of late for Terry’s team but, in a run of six games without a win in all competitions, keeping them out at the other end has been less than straightforward.

With five changes made to the starting line-up, Terry turning to youth at the tail end of the season, Bassett were able to keep a clean sheet and as a result, Luigi Hernandez’s first-half strike was enough to secure all three points in the Premier Division clash.

“I was delighted because it was a good group performance,” said Terry.

“We’ve been going through a bad spell with injuries and made four or five changes, and had a game plan to tackle them.

“We went in at half-time 1-0 up. Usually we go in two goals down – we have given a lot of goals away recently.

“On Saturday, the attitude and commitment of all the players was unquestionable and it was great to see it going through the squad, with all the young players coming through.

“In the first 15 minutes, we should have been 4-0 up.

“We hit the post, the crossbar, and again, it didn’t happen.

“I think we scored in the 43rd minute with Luigi and in the second half, we created chance after chance with some lovely football, and we should have come off with five or six but 1-0; we’ll take.”

With only two games left of their campaign against Malmesbury Victoria Development and Wroughton, and Bassett firmly in mid-table, Terry is already looking ahead to next season.

“I always said it was going to be a three-year plan, with the young lads coming through,” he added.

“This year was about getting young players in. Some go up to the firsts, some don’t.

“Next season, the feedback I’m getting, is that we’re getting a good, young squad together.”

In the only other league game, Shrewton United beat Bromham 5-3 to jump above Melksham Town Reserves and Marlborough Town into second spot.

Meanwhile, Cricklade Town progressed in the Fountain Trophies Senior Knockout Cup with a 3-0 win over Malmesbury.

Goals from Sean Bailey, Sam Collier and Giorgio Wrona saw them reach the semi-final stage.