Far better performance by Bassett at finishing after last week, even though many chances went begging. Never mind, five put away (three of them for Pete Dearlove) will do for now,

The game started slowly, both sides in mid table were giving nothing away. Bassett Captain, Paul Davis, had to gee his men up. after some slack passing saw Bassett giving the ball away too readily.

However, things got better and Bassett pressed Cleeve's end, particularly on the right, where Franklin's pace was causing the defence problems. It was from his short pass into the box that Dearlove got his first after 19 minutes. He turned his man and fired a curling shot into the opposite top corner - a real "Bergkamp" goal.

Bassett seemed to ease up then and saw more of Cleeve attacking, although Hale was not bothered unduly, that is until the 25th minute. A ball from Nick Wilkins over the top and the back door was open, Lewis fired the ball across the six-yard box and there was Wilkins to finish what he had started. Within two minutes of the start of the second half. Bassett were in front. Dearlove again, turning outside the box, caught keeper Belcher off his line and hit the ball into the top corner.

On 50 minutes Cooper extended the lead from a corner. Cleeve could not clear and Cooper fired in from close range. The game looked safe for the home side now, but an old failing reared its head, loss of concentration. Bradley O'Neil was left unmarked in a Cleeve attack and he made no mistake. Now the boot was on the other foot and from a back pass that went wrong, let in Lewis and Hale, standing up, got his hands to the chip and his boot to the follow up. It kept Bassett in front.

Then in the 73rd minute, Cleeve threw it away. Bassett won a comer on the right. As the ball came across, a defender blatantly pushed Lawrence Smith in the back as he rose to head the ball. Pete Dearlove made no mistake from the spot. Cleeve tried to come back and pushed men forward, but it was their undoing. A clearance found Franklin, five or six yards inside his own half. Incredibly, as Cleeve defenders screamed for offside, he went on a solo run and hit Bassett's fifth, past the unfortunate Belcher.

At last it was Bassett getting into scoring positions, particularly Martin Cooper - he could have had three himself.

Credit: John Reynolds
Last modified on Saturday 2nd January 2021 at 11:52