Bassett came close to securing their first points of the season in a tight encounter with Malmesbury. A draw would have been a fair result but unfortunately Bassett were made to pay for a number of missed chances in the first half. Phillip Tearle was once again instrumental in most of Bassett's moves. Sean Toomey went close for Bassett on a couple of occasions but the final shot in each case went wide of the goal. The closest Bassett came to scoring was a thunderous drive from full back Tom Marchment which was saved in spectacular fashion by the Malmesbury keeper. Tom Holmes at the other end was also looking in fine form in the Bassett goal. Midway through the half. Bassett only half-cleared a Malmesbury attack, the ball unfortunately falling at the feet of Malmesbury's star player. Sam Higginbottom. The Bassett players had been warned before the match to try and deny Higginbottom any goal scoring chances, as he had scored some long-range goals against us in the past. Higginbottom fired in a powerful shot which gave Tom Holmes no chance whatsoever.
In the second half Bassett pushed forward trying to get the equaliser. Mike Ford and Phillip Tearle linking up well. Unfortunately, they found Malmesbury's keeper in tremendous form, continually sweeping up behind his defence. The game was put beyond Bassett's reach when a free kick was conceded on the halfway line. Normally you would feel save from a free kick this far out but Higginbottom fired in a powerful shot which Tom Holmes could only parry. Meanwhile Bassett's back four just stood and watched as three Malmesbury places chased the rebound, Ashley Bryant winning the race and scoring. A disappointing result, but a good close match.
Players MOM: Tom Marchment (5 votes), R-up Tom Holmes (3 votes)
Managers Man of the Match: Tom Marchment
The Views of the other side" on this match... Match Report taken from Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard 21" September 2000
"Malmesbury needed to be close to their best to secure the points at Wootton Bassett on Sunday afternoon. In the early exchanges, both sides had chances, the best being from a 20-yard drive by the home side, which was saved in splendid fashion by Anthony Brown. Malmesbury took the lead mid-way through the first half, following a move involving five players. The pressure finally led to a half-clearance to Sam Higginbottom who fired the ball home from 20 yards. The Bassett keeper, who until now had looked difficult to beat, had absolutely no chance as the ball crashed into the top right-hand corner of his goal. Bassett finished the first half with a period of sustained pressure as tricky Philip Terale continued to cause problems down Malmesbury's left side. He delivered a number of fine crosses, which the Malmesbury defence did well to clear. The second half saw plenty of end-to-end action. Malmesbury went close on a number of occasions with one Michael Collinson volley being parried after looking a certain goal. The home side also looked dangerous, but Anthony Brown held firm in the Malmesbury goal, although Dale Hick came to his rescue by heading one effort off the line towards the end of the game. Malmesbury's second goal killed off the game. A through ball from Max Whiting to Ashley Bryant was handled in panic by the Bassett centre-back. Sam Higginbottom thundered the resulting free kick towards the goal, which the keeper could only parry and quick-thinking Ashley Bryant dashed in to slam the ball home."
Credit: Mark Smedley
Last modified on Thursday 24th December 2020 at 12:37
