Loop Meadow Stadium, 22nd February 2003

Bassett were seen off easily by an outstanding Didcot Town side, the final score being 5-0 thanks to an Ian Concannon hat-trick.

Bassett were without Rich Stevens in goal for this match with Jason Hillier replacing him for his first match since this season's opener against Gloucester United; also coming in was Brian Kayll.

Bassett were up against one of the best footballing teams in the Hellenic League Premier Division in the quarter finals of the Supplementary Cup Quarter Finals and this showed as within the first ten minutes Didcot were ahead after good work by Ian Concannon put Damien Oglesby through and Oglesby put the ball past Jason Hillier to make it 1-0 Didcot.

Bassett couldn't find a way past the Didcot defence in the first twenty minutes as they had plenty of possession but didn't get a shot on goal in this period.

On fifteen minutes, Didcot were denied by some good Bassett defending before they went two up on sixteen minutes when neat work by Jamie Heapy and Terry Morrissey put Ian Concannon through and Concannon easily put his first goal of the day away. Again the Bassett defence fell asleep in allowing the goal.

Jason Hillier again denied Didcot in the 21st minute when he jumped above Ian Concannon to collect a cross from the right from Damien Oglesby.

Bassett continued to be pressured and were on the back foot again in the 31st minute when a dangerous looking cross from Ian Concannon was put out by Stu Lamont for a corner. From the resulting corner Nigel Emsden's shot from the edge of the area went just wide after the ball had fallen free.

Bassett's first chance of the game came twelve minutes from the half time break when Justin Hyde broke down the right wing, crossed the ball in the box but the connecting header from Paul Feeley was saved easily by Jeff Simmonds.

Bassett had another chance two minutes later when a Paul Feeley free kick from the left was connected with by Brian Kayll in the area but Kayll headed wide.

The final action of the first half came five minutes from time when Steve Yeardley was booked for a nothing challenge. The resulting free kick from Morrissey was easily saved by Hillier in the Bassett goal.

Bassett had the opening chance of the second half when Justin Hyde hit wide from the edge of the area in the 49th minute.

Both teams exchanged chances before Bassett made the first change of the match when Danny Clayton replaced Paul Patel on the hour mark.

In the 66th minute Bassett were let off once more when Ian Concannon failed to convert from all of six yards. Even the best strikers can miss sometimes! Again Concannon had a chance ten minutes later when Stu Lamont denied him a chance on goal with a well timed tackle.

Bassett then brought Mark Vaughan on for Nick Tooley – Tooley complaining of a knee injury. Immediately Vaughan was involved in the action when on 80 minutes he deflected a shot into the direction of the Bassett goal but Hillier was on hand to tip the ball over to prevent an own goal.

Didcot went three up a minute later when substitute Chris Nelson headed in a Nigel Emsden cross from the right wing.

Ian Concannon got his second five minutes from time when he scored a well worked goal before, two minutes later, Concannon capitalized on a parried Kevin Dorrian shot to tap in the rebound for his hat-trick.

Bassett's losing streak now stands at five games and they are now out of all cup competitions. They look to get back to winning ways on Tuesday when they host Yate Town in the Hellenic League whom they lost 6-0 to in the game just prior to this Didcot match.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Ben Gascoyne – worked hard all game for Bassett.

Scoop Rating: 6.5/10 – Not a bad performance against the best passing team, in my view, in the Hellenic League.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Wednesday 2nd September 2020 at 10:21