ROYAL Wootton Bassett boss Rich Hunter watched his side narrowly miss out to Malmesbury Victoria in their latest pre-season friendly.

Bassett, who travelled to the Toolstation League side on Tuesday, saw new signing Mason Thompson net twice in the 4-3 defeat, Nathan Gambling got the other.

Thompson has been prolific so far for the Hellenic League Premier Division outfit, with four goals in his last four outings.

The 21-year-old winger, who joined from Wantage Town, got his first goal against Lyneham in a 4-2 win earlier this month.

The coming campaign will be a first full season in charge for Hunter, who inherited a squad from former manager Paul Braithwaite four games into last season.

With the summer to assemble his own group, Hunter will have to prepare for life without last season’s top scorer, Steve Robertson, who will not be returning after netting 24 times in 34 games last term.

Hunter has added former Highworth Town duo Nathan Gambling and Jonny Aitkenhead, both players have played for the club in previous spells.

Bassett’s only other defeat of pre-season came in a 5-0 loss to Swindon Supermarine last Saturday.

Hunter’s side have two more friendlies to play, as they host Devizes Town this evening before welcoming Shortwood United to the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground on Saturday.

New Pewsey Vale manager Ali Tuttle is eagerly awaiting the start to the new Hellenic League season on Tuesday evening. 

Tuttle has seen Vale return to the Hellenic set-up after making the switch from the Sydenhams League last term, and will travel to Headington Amateurs in their opener in Division One West.

Since the move, there has been an influx of players who want to get the club firing again.

Tuttle said “The lads are shaping up well. We have had a good group of 40 at training regularly and we have been doing a lot of fitness work.

“We have quite a lot of new faces. Because we are back in the Hellenic League, we have managed to get our Swindon contingent back. 

“When I took over at the end of last season, it was on the proviso that the club would get back into the Hellenic League. 

“As soon as I came on board I was talking to those players, so myself and the chairman, Craig Wall, have been working hard over the summer.” 

The Vale boss admits he had to revise his aims for the new campaign after assessing the calibre of player his club have brought in. 

“Initially, I was hoping we could finish in the top half but from what I have seen from the players we have brought in, I’d be disappointed if we didn’t push for promotion,” he said.

“That is the aim, we have a lot of competition for places, which is something Pewsey haven’t had for a while.”