Following their humiliating defeat at bottom-of-the-table Ardley United the previous week, Bassett travelled to second placed Wantage Town on Saturday looking for an improved performance and the points to maintain something of a challenge to league leaders and near-neighbours Purton.

Having lost Giles and Timbrell with flu and keeper Stevens through other commitments. Bassett reshuffled their pack. In came Reserve keeper Kevin Reed and Dominic Machell along with Casey and Barron who were on the bench the previous week.

To the delight of the small contingent of travelling supporters, Bassett went ahead after five minutes through a cross-shot by Scott Vincent. In fact, the first 20 minutes were all Bassett, Harrison and Guthrie the engines in midfield assisted by Barron and Clark. Rick Casey was a constant threat on the right and it was no surprise when Bassett increased their lead on 25 minutes. Quick inter-passing between Taylor, Harrison and Guthrie saw Barron run on to a through-ball and, with the keeper rushing in, finished from 30 yards with a first-time shot over the keeper.

Conditions were now deteriorating under incessant rain and Wantage almost snatched one back, but the header rebounded off the crossbar with Read beaten. In the last five minutes of the half, Bassett could have doubled their lead but for the Wantage keeper as two fine saves from Vincent kept his side in the game.

The second half saw it rain even harder and the surface became increasingly difficult. Wantage threw everything at their rivals. But with Moloney, Stephens and Machell standing firm, the visitors weathered the storm as Read in the Bassett goal, brought off two marvellous saves.

Bassett could have increased their lead on 70 minutes but Vincent having used Clark as a decoy, pulled his shot wide. Two minutes later, Bassett lost Casey with an ankle injury and was replaced by Kev Roberts. Just as Bassett got back into the game, a mistake by Stephens led to Wantage reducing the arrears.

But Bassett were not to be denied their worthy victory, sealing it in the 85th minute, In the deepening gloom, Vincent cut in from the left to fire in his second of the afternoon. With Milton losing at home, Bassett moved back into second spot and must now put together a sequence of victories.

Credit: Wilts & Glos Standard
Last modified on Friday 1st January 2021 at 12:21