ROYAL Wootton Bassett Town were left cursing a hateful eight after they were humiliated by Highworth Town on Bank Holiday Monday.

Paul Braithwaite’s side went looking to hand themselves some belated festive cheer as they made the trip to their local rivals in the Hellenic League Premier Division but were left licking their wounds after being emphatically decimated at the Elms, with Bassett shipping a whopping eight goals.

After a shaky start, the hosts thought they had taken the lead in the seventh minute when TJ Bohane fired home from six yards out but his goal was ruled out after he was penalised for a high foot in the build-up.

The breakthrough didn’t take long to arrive, though, with Dan Drewett netting after Bassett stopper Curtis Meare wasn’t able to hold onto a deflected shot.

The advantage was doubled just two minutes later when Drewett turned provider and laid the ball off for Richie Saunders to crack a strike into the top corner.

Saunders got his second in the 36th minute when he got his head to a Bohane cross at the back post and after Drewett had a goal ruled out, Callum Parsons made it 4-0 when he finished from the edge of the box.

Things didn’t improve for Bassett in the second period, with Steve Yeardley heading into his own net from a corner three minutes in.

Highworth’s Saunders completed his hat-trick in the 66th minute when he headed home from a Tom Butler free-kick and even an injury to the referee couldn’t halt the home team’s onslaught as Nathan Blackford came off the bench and got in on the act with two more goals.

Braithwaite's crestfallen troops go looking to draw a line under their Highworth disaster at Brimscombe & Thrupp on Saturday.