Some new faces, a few old ones returning and one or two missing - notably Steve Hale who has gone to keep goal for Yate Town - failed to stop Bassett getting a new season off to a cracking start on Saturday.

The first 15 minutes was a settling down spell but, after that. Bassett ran Amateurs ragged. The back three again in Davis, Green and Timbrell gave nothing away while Harper at right-back provided a solid display.

But up front and in midfield was the place with Ken Regan adding a new dimension to lead the attack. His flick-ons and running into space had defenders pulled all over the place. He got his reward on 19 minutes. Dearlove. on his own on the right, made a good run into Headington territory. He lost the ball to a defender, who then completed the cross to an unmarked Regan who scored easily.

It was mostly Bassett from then on, Bailey in Bassett's goal being called on only once for a reaction save. Bassett went two up on the 33rd minute. A corner was only half-cleared to Dearlove whose drive hit a post before the ball came out to Timbrell who rammed it home. In the remaining time left in the half, Bassett had many chances to add to their tally but chances went begging.

The second half was quite different. Town took their foot off the pedal and Amateurs went after them. Bassett's play became ragged with misplaced passes from midfield putting the defence under almost constant pressure. Headington's goal came in the 50th minute and was scored by Mark Roper. He hit the ball hard and high from some 10 yards into Bassett's half. As it dropped everyone, including the Bassett keeper, thought it was going over - it didn't and the ball dropped over his head and into the goal.

Bassett now had a fight on their hands. Too many things were going wrong. Headington were catching Bassett's forwards off-side, just yards over the half-way line, putting the defence back under pressure from the resulting free kick. Bassett did manage to get free when Newton was put through, but he unluckily hit a post.

Just after this, Paul Davis broke from the back only to see his shot saved by Cartwright. Timbrell made the game safe for Bassett in the 87th minute. A corner from Harper found him on the edge of the box and a superb volley fairly flew into the net. leaving keeper and defenders motionless on the line.

Credit: John Reynolds
Last modified on Saturday 2nd January 2021 at 11:53