WINDSOR FC came from 3-0 down to beat Royal Wootton Bassett 4-3 in a seven-goal Hellenic League Premier Division thriller at Stag Meadow.

Mick Woodham’s hosts looked dead and buried after Matt Bennett had fired the visitors into a 29th-minute lead before Brad Pagliaroli scored on 38 and 51 minutes to put them 3-0 up.

However, Ashley Smith pulled one back in the 62nd minute, Jeevan Panesar grabbed the second a minute later and Smith then scored again in the 72nd minute to make it 3-3.

And Windsor’s remarkable comeback was completed when substitute Malachi Thomas netted the winner eight minutes from time before Bassett had Adam Corocan sent off.

Windsor went on to make it three wins from their opening four games when they beat hosts Shrivenham 3-1 on Tuesday.

The visitors dominated possession in the opening half, although there were few chances at either end.

It took until the 69th minute for the deadlock to be broken, and it was Windsor who took the lead courtesy of a Panesar strike.

Thomas doubled the advantage eight minutes later after being set-up by Rob Lazarczuk, and the game was put to bed three minutes from time when Jamie Di Giuseppe played in Dan Roberts to make it 3-0.

Shrivenham did grab an injury-time consolation courtesy of Ryan Stanners, but it was Windsor who took all three points to help themselves into fifth place in the early-season standings.

Windsor travel to Cirencester Town this Saturday in the FA Cup preliminary round.

  • See today's Observer for more Windsor FC news and pictures.