Oaklands Park, 1st October 2002

Bassett Town recorded their first win in the Hellenic Premiership in over a month to end their September blues in a well earned 2-1 victory over Bristol based side Almondsbury Town.

Bassett were the brighter team in the first few minutes as they had two opportunities to open the scoring with successive shots from Justin Hyde and Allan Pluckrose, after Hyde had gained Bassett a corner.

Paul Patel had a good chance for Bassett in the 14th minute when he shot wide, five minutes before Almondsbury broke the deadlock against the run of play.

A long kick from their 'keeper led to the Bassett defence misjudging the ball allowing a prod to go past Steve Hale in the Bassett goal, to make it 1-0 Almondsbury.

Bassett went looking for an equaliser and the ever-impressive Paul Garbutt nearly got a goal back in the 20th minute, shooting over.

Almondsbury could have made it two on the half hour mark when an error by Stu Lamont put Almondsbury's striker clean through, but he squandered the chance.

Almondsbury continued to press before the break having two good chances – one going wide and the other, which was a cross, hit the bar.

Bassett went into the break a goal down but had played some good football none the less.

Bassett came out in the second half looking for a goal to get themselves back in it. They nearly did that six minutes after the restart when a Paul Garbutt shot was saved and young Danny Clayton headed the rebound, only for it to be cleared off the line.

Bassett got a goal a minute later though when Paul Garbutt was fouled in the box; he took the penalty and put it away comfortably to make it one all.

Garbutt could have got his second in the 61st minute when he was clean through but his shot was saved.

Bassett kept on top when a minute later Stu Lamont played an excellent ball to Paul Patel who played it to Garbutt and Garbutt's shot was saved by the 'keeper.

Bassett made it 2-1 in the 64th minute when a Danny Clayton throw was headed on by Nick Tooley then by Justin Hyde. It fell to Stuart Lamont who rifled home.

Bassett could have made it more a minute later when Paul Garbutt crossed to Stu Lamont who was tackled at the last minute, which denied Lamont of a shot.

Almondsbury had a good chance to get back in the game when a shot was palmed over by Bassett 'keeper Steve Hale.

Bassett began to control the match again when Paul Garbutt ran through Almondsbury's defence, crossed to Stu Lamont but again a last minute tackle denied Lamont.

Bassett made their first change in the 77th minute bringing Neil Bridges on for the creator of the second goal Nick Tooley. Bridges was denied ten minutes after his entrance to the game when a ball was put through from a defensive error but he shot just over.

Bassett made their final two changes before the final whistle bringing Danny Clayton and Paul Garbutt off for Gary Ashford and Paul O'Connell.

In injury time Almondsbury had a chance from a free header but the header went wide.

Bassett had clung on to all three points, which gives the Bassett faithful something to cheer about – hopefully a win against Bishop's Cleeve at the weekend is on the cards.

Managers Man of the Match: Mark Hammond

Scoop (Dads) Rating: 8/10 – A hard working performance from Bassett and a welcome three points. Great games for Mark Hammond and Paul Garbutt rounded off an excellent win.

Credit: Mark Smedley
Last modified on Thursday 27th August 2020 at 15:17