ROYAL Wootton Bassett head coach Alan Low believes that the class of 2016-17 are setting the benchmark for the club.

Bassett made their first foray into South West One East in 2009-10 but were relegated without a win to their name.

Much has changed at the club since that brief affair with this level, with the club moving to Ballards Ash, bringing in Low as head coach and the Southern Counties South title sitting proudly in their clubhouse.

Now after the opening six games back in South West One East, Bassett are proving to be the surprise package of the campaign, with only unbeaten leaders Maidenhead edging them out on the opening day of the season.

Since that loss, Low’s side have won all five of their matches, including victories against sides plying their trades in the National Leagues last term, and currently sit third in the table with the chance to go top at the weekend.

“At the start of the season the aim was to play to compete as it was a trip into the unknown,” Low said, ahead of Saturday’s visit of Reading Abbey.

“We have slightly amended that now because we are competing, it is now all about the performance.

“When this club were in South West One last time, they didn’t win a game.

“This group of players we have now are really setting the benchmark for the club.

“All the talk now is progressing and developing from the Colts up.”

Low believes part of the reason for their success over the last couple of years is down to the way the players stay focused on the job at hand.

“It is quite enlightening as a coach to see how inward thinking these boys are,” Low said.

“They are just so focused on taking it one game at a time.

“We also now have a number of leaders on the pitch, it is not just about the captain.

“More players are stepping up and that is really pleasing because we have got such a young squad – we have got six who are all under 19.”

Bassett will be without Chris Patterson for the foreseeable future after he suffered detached tendons in his fingers, while Kyle Lovell remains sidelined by concussion protocols.

“Kyle is still experiencing a few headaches and we have to make sure that he is absolutely 100 per cent before bringing him back,” Low said.

“Will Hooper is starting to get back to fitness now after an ankle injury and it will be good to see him back in the mix.”

Tomorrow’s visitors Reading Abbey will arrive at Ballards Ash having won their last three matches after a difficult start to the campaign, which saw them suffer defeats to Old Centralians, Old Patesians and Newbury Blues.