Rylands Way, 12th October 2002

An injury time equaliser from September Player of the Month Nathan Hall denied opponents Pegasus Juniors all three points in a close fought battle after Bassett had gone 2-0 down early in the second half.

With Bassett looking to pick up vital points to move up the table they needed goals, something which there have been very few of in the last couple of weeks.

With Bassett needing to take their chances totally the opposite happened in the first half on Saturday.

Stu Lamont in the fourth minute came close with a shot but Kyle Weaving in the Pesagus goal easily held it.

Neil Hotchkiss had a decent chance for Pegasus in the eighth minute but he shot wide past Steve Hale in the Bassett goal.

Bassett gained back the initiative having three decent chances in succession – Justin Hyde shot wide after a scintillating run starting on the half way line; Allan Pluckrose then headed into the back of the net from a Mike Simpkins corner only for it to be disallowed for pushing in the Pegasus box, and a minute later, Justin Hyde put in a decent cross which wasn't connected with.

Stu Lamont had another chance, which went just wide in the 23rd minute when he headed a Mark Simpkins corner over.

Bassett should really have been in the lead by now as Pegasus' defending was somewhat criminal at times.

Paul Garbutt had a good chance for Bassett in the 23rd minute when he struck just wide. At the other end, Neil Hotchkiss had another good chance for Pegasus in the 31st minute when his shot was spilled by Hale in goal but luckily Haler picked it back up.

Joe Wright came close for Pegasus again in the 33rd minute before Bassett had four great opportunities to score before the break – the best falling to Nick Tooley whose shot hit the post after he was one-on-one with 'keeper Weaving.

0-0 at the break was very disappointing for Bassett who had had a good half but just couldn't take their chances.

The second half started well for Bassett with two easy chances – one for Nick Tooley and one for veteran Allan Pluckrose, who hit the post after he connected with a great Mark Simpkins corner.

Rob Hopkins pulled up injured in the 50th minute and he was replaced with youngster Paul Carson.

Totally against the run of play, Pegasus broke the deadlock in the 58th minute when Gavin Stone hit home from 20 yards past a diving Steve Hale.

It went from bad to worse when Pegasus went two goals to the good in the 63rd minute, when Stone scored his second beating Steve Hale, who wasn't anticipating a good through ball which Stone latched onto to score.

Bassett started to pile the pressure onto Pegasus as Stu Lamont had a good header saved by Weaving after a great Paul Carson cross.

Neil Bridges was brought on for Luke Sharps in the 67th minute to add an extra striker. Bassett made their final change six minutes later when Dave Jones was rested and player of the month Nathan Hall was put on in his place.

Bassett started to get the initiative and in the 87th minute Stu Lamont's shot was deflected in to make it 2-1 to Pegasus.

Deep into injury time Bassett had a lot of good chances and they were given hope of a goal after Leigh Stevens was sent off for Pegasus for pulling Neil Bridges shirt when Bridges was likely to grab his first goal of the season.

The resulting free kick led to a corner. Nathan Hall scored the equaliser from the resulting corner, when a goalmouth melee let the ball fall to Hall who blasted home to make it 2-2.

Bassett had got a welcome point after a great late second half performance to grab two goals in the space of five minutes.

Managers Man of the Match: Neil Bridges for turning the game around at the right time of the match.

Scoops Man of the Match: Paul Garbutt for battling hard, as he always does.

Scoop Rating: 8/10 – A great late second half performance grabbed Bassett a point. Everyone battled hard trying to get the three points especially Neil Bridges and Paul Garbutt.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Wednesday 2nd September 2020 at 08:59