In their final game of 1987 Wootton Bassett gave a comfortable, if slightly disappointing display, defeating lowly placed Corsham by four goals to nil. The goal tally could have been much higher had Bassett been fully fired up for this game, but instead there were a few players who were doing just enough and no more. The game opened up with Bassett very much on top. Several early chances were created, perhaps the best falling to Johns, following a lovely one-two with Harrison, when he unfortunately fired tamely into the arms of the keeper. However, it was not until the 20th minute that Bassett took the lead from a cleverly worked set piece. They were awarded a free kick just outside the box. York shaped to shoot for goal but instead ran over the ball, Harrison laid the ball by the side of the wall to the on running York who shot home. The goal should have been the signal for Bassett to gain complete control but instead they tended to sit back on the lead. This allowed Corsham, who were fielding a fairly inexperienced side, to come back into the game, and although they only really troubled Rees once, when he had to dive sharply to his left to turn away a shot from a free kick, territorially they held the advantage up until half time. However, when Bassett did break out, they always looked capable of scoring, indeed Frost rapped the Corsham bar following a corner.

The second half saw Bassett much more determined and their midfield started to gain control and pick up all the loose balls. The control was well rewarded Bassett scoring three good goals. After 55 minutes a cross from the right was flicked on by Frost into the path of Hanrahan who shot home from 12 yards. In the 70th minute York went on a mazy run which saw him beat 3 players before firing confidently past the keeper. Ten minutes later a lovely ball from McKay released York down the left. His cross just eluded Karn, making his debut, and was headed out by a Corsham defender to a gleeful Harrison, who hit it on the volley and smashed it past the keeper from just inside the box. A fine end then to '87 for Bassett, which sees them riding high at the top of the league, and at the quarter final stages of both cups. Indeed, their next game is on January 2nd when they entertain Supermarine in the Wilts Senior Cup, 2.00pm kick-off.

Credit: Paul Harrison
Last modified on Sunday 15th November 2020 at 18:49