Purton gave an excellent team performance last Saturday when they progressed to the next round of the Wilts Senior Cup with a 2-0 away win at the expense of near-neighbours Wootton Bassett Town.

Except for a couple of efforts from Dearlove and a late free-kick from Harper, Purton were rarely troubled and might well have won by a couple more goals. Purton were 2-0 up at half-time with two well taken goals and it was Ian Curtis, a former Bassett player, who gave the visitors a 15th minute lead. Attacking the Bassett defence down the left, he showed the ball on his right before slipping it to his left and lashing it past the keeper.

Curtis and Wood then both had further chances to increase the lead before Purton got their second after 29 minutes. Arron Crumbie delivered a great cross from the right and Mark Gardner, who along with Carl Stevenson, was outstanding for Purton on the day rose to outjump everyone to score with a looping header from 16 yards. Purton then survived a goalmouth melee just before he break and keeper Shipton saved well from Dearlove who struck a fine volley.

In the second half Bassett tried to get back into the game, but Dearlove, Flavell and Harper all failed to penetrate Purton's defence. In fact Gardner, Roberts and Goddard all had half chances to have made the visitors win much more convincing than the 2-0 final outcome that sent Purton supporters home happy. The teams were as follows:

Wootton Bassett Town: Eustice, Newton, Machell, Harper, P. Davis, Green, Newnham, Hyde, Stoddart, Franklin, Dearlove. Subs: Smith, Flavell, J. Davis

Purton: Shipton, A. Crumbie, Goddard, Gardner, I.Jones, Collier, Roberts, Stevenson, Curtis, Tucker, B.Wood. Subs: S. Crumbie, Cole.

Credit: Wilts & Glos Standard
Last modified on Saturday 2nd January 2021 at 14:00