Bassett's depressing run of defeats continued with a home reverse at the hands of last seasons champions in the Under 11B Division, Stratton Youth. Bassett should have scored in the opening minutes when Jonny Aitkenhead hit the bar and Matt Purse somehow managed to blast the rebound over when it looked easier to score. It was the home side who went in front when Phillip Tearle got on the end of a Matt Purse cross to head past Ashley Scrivens in the Stratton goal. Stratton manage dto get themselves back in the match when Basset failed to clear in their six-yard box and the ball looped over the head of keeper Tom Holmes following a blocked tackle. Bassett responded immediately by regaining the lead when Phillip Tearle got behind the Stratton defence and hammered a shot past Scrivens in the Stratton goal. The game continued to be an excellent advert for the Swindon & District League and Stratton managed to get back on level terms when Tom Holmes failed to hold a free kick crossed from the left and the rebound was put in by the Stratton striker. Bassett should have led at half time but again had not made the best use of the advantage of the wind behind them to secure a lead.

Stratton scored within a minute of the restart when a mix up at the back for Bassett allowed Nick Peare to score for Stratton. Bassett's heads did not drop and they continued to press forward for an equaliser. Man of the match Phillip Tearle went closest for Bassett to getting the elusive equaliser. A powerful shot from the edge of the box was well saved by Ashley Scrivens in the Stratton goal. The Stratton keeper also parried another Tearle shot across his six-yard box but there was no Bassett player on hand to take advantage. Three minutes from the end, with Bassett pushing for the equaliser, a mix up between Bassett's two centre backs allowed Stratton to get behind the defence. The initial shot was saved but Henry Bird followed up to slide the ball into the net. A draw would have been a fair result on the balance of play but once again Bassett found themselves losing by two goals.

Players and Managers Man of the Match: Phil Tearle

Credit: Mark Smedley
Last modified on Friday 20th November 2020 at 20:30