Five star Bassett thrash students

Monday 18th July 2016

Royal Wootton Bassett Town brushed aside New College, defeating the student side 5-1 as they finalised their pre-season preparations.

Paul Braithwaite's team were too strong for their opponents, scoring through an own goal, an Aaron Maximen penalty and strikes from Steve Robertson, TJ Bohane and defender Nathan Hawkins.

The victory came two days after a 2-2 draw against Stonehouse Town of the Gloucestershire County League.

Bassett had held a 2-0 advantage at the interval courtesy of a pair of Steve Yeardley goals.

However, Stonehouse, former opponents of Bassett when both sides were in the Wiltshire League, fought back with two unanswered second half strikes.

In their previous game a late Connor Waldon strike saw Swindon Supermarine snatch a 2-1 victory.

In a competitive contest that saw both teams create a number of chances, and the home team looked set to grab a draw against their Southern League Division One South and West opponents after Bohane's powerful header from Ryan King's corner had got them on level terms midway through the second half.

However, Waldon punished Bassett for failing to successfully clear from a corner in the game's dying stages, as he fired in on the turn from just inside the box.

Supermarine had earlier taken the lead through Josh Parsons, who stabbed home from close range following good work down the left hand side from full back Ryan Morgan.

They were then guilty of squandering a number of fine chances in the opening period, while Bassett came close through Dan Bailey, who twice hit the woodwork.

The narrow loss to Supermarine followed a 3-1 defeat in their second warm up match against Oxford City Nomads in the Jim Newman Memorial Trophy at Clanfield.

Against their Hellenic League Premier Division rivals, Bassett fell into a 2-0 deficit before Robertson got a goal back. However, the Nomads re-established their two goal advantage late on to move into the semi finals of the prestigious pre-season tournament.

Defeat against Nomads had followed a strong showing in Bassett's pre-season opener away at Purton. New signing Bohane scored twice as Bassett secured a convincing 4-1 victory at the Red House.

Bassett fell behind after Aaron Maximen conceded a penalty, but Tom Cole got the visitors on level terms, heading in from a Bradley Clark free kick.

Another Clarke set piece fashioned a second as Bohane headed it in before the forward bagged his second of the game and Bassett's third. Midfielder Steve May then further padded the score.

Reserves enjoy friendly success

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Reserves' pre-season preparations have so far been a success in front of goal, with fourteen goals scored in three games.

They thrashed Purton Reserves 6-1 in their opener. Rich Clark netted four, while Jack Allan and Shaun Terry also scored.

Bassett then defeated Malmesbury Victoria Development 5-3. Ryan Thomas led the way with a hat-trick as Steve Yeardley and Jake Matthews chipped in with further goals.

Against Lydiard Millicent, the Reserves found themselves in a 3-0 hole, but clawed their way back to draw level thanks to strikes from Jack Clifton and Jake Matthews as well as an own goal. However, Lydiard scored on the break late on to secure a win by the odd goal in seven.

Last modified on Saturday 30th July 2016 at 16:47.