No two ways about it, Bassett will be very disappointed with this result. They deserved a point and considering the second-half onslaught on the Wantage goal, maybe could have won it. Poor finishing and some bad luck played a part in the loss. But so did some of the Wantage tackling At least four, last-ditch tackles brought Bassett forwards down on the edge of the box. Surprisingly, the result brought only one yellow card to the guilty defender. The last, which flattened Rick Casey, certainly deserved an early shower.
However, Wantage started the game far better than Bassett. The home side always seem to start slowly, and they had a lot or defending to do. Wantage midfield were quicker in the ball and the wide men had too much space, but their attacks fizzled out as they rarely troubled Stevens.
Bassett's first real attack on goal after 20 minutes saw Gavin Barron force Wantage keeper Padbury into a diving save. And 10minutes later, Bassett were one up. Against the run of play, a corner by Barry Giles was met by Nigel Packer in a crowded goalmouth and he headed into the roof of the net.
Wantage came back at Bassett, and they equalised on 37 minutes with a goal from Champion. A long throw-in near the corner flag was allowed into the six-yard box and while, defenders ball watched, the Wantage No 11scored.
The second half was better as far as Bassett's performance was concerned, but not as far as the result goes, It was Bassett's turn to pen Wantage back - but they paid the price. In the 56th minute, a long ball out of defence found Dorrian unmarked on the halfway line. He took the ball on and beat the advancing Bassett keeper Stevens.
From then on, it was all Bassett. Growing in confidence, they played some really good football, they had Wantage in all sorts of trouble. While they couldn't handle either Casey or Vincent, the latter, maybe should have put the game out of the visitors' reach. Bassett hit a post and everything else except the back of the net.
Credit: Wilts & Glos Standard
Last modified on Friday 1st January 2021 at 13:02
