Rylands Way, Tuesday September 2 2003

Two first half defensive errors led to Bassett's second loss on the trot as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Bishops Cleeve. Bassett were without key players Matt Bennett, Mark Simpkins, Rich Willis and Geoff Swatton but Steve Yeardley, Dave Jones and Andy Hallett returned.

Bassett started brightly and on ten minutes a flick from Dave Jones from a Yeardley throw was poked just wide.

Bishops Cleeve came close at the other end three minutes later when a header hit the post after some great wing play. A minute later and Bassett were behind as Adam Giles put the ball away after the Bassett defence failed to put a challenge in on Giles.

More problems came for Bassett when in the twentieth minute a long Russ Wilton free kick bounced past the out of place Rob Hopkins and went over the head of 'keeper Darren Curtis to double the visitors' advantage.

The inspirational Dave Jones found another chance for Bassett on 33 minutes when he struck his free kick just over from twenty five yards out.

John Magani had the best chance for Bassett a minute later when he weaved his magic once again – taking the ball around the helpless Bishops Cleeve defence – but the shot bounced out of the upright after beating Cleeve 'keeper Dan Logan.

Two sloppy defensive errors had cost Bassett in the first half and manager Pete Yeardley wasn't at all pleased.

Bassett responded to this and started the second half looking to claw a goal back. The first real chance of the half, after some close action, came after 57 minutes, but it was for the visitors as Andy Keveran struck from the edge of the area but Darren Curtis dealt with the shot well.

Bassett made their first change a minute later as the skilful Chris Hawkins made his first appearance of the year replacing Rob Hopkins. As the match wore on Bassett were desperate to pinch a point but they couldn't make an opening and the game began to become more like kick and hope for the home side.

Hawkins nearly made a chance on 66 minutes when he played John Magani through who turned on the edge of the area, Magani then laid it the ball across to Sam Reason who shot over from the edge of the box.

Six minutes on Bassett had yet another chance this time involving Paul Davis who connected with a Carl Taylor free kick with his head but was denied as Cleeve cleared the ball off the line. Bassett brought Dave Jones off a minute later to be replaced by Andy Hallett.

In the 76th minute Tony Macek delivered a thundering free kick from twenty five yards but it was saved by 'keeper Dan Logan.

Eleven minutes from time Bassett made their final change bringing on another attacking option in Ben Gascoyne as he replaced Lee Morse, with Bassett now playing with three strikers.

Bassett continued to battle deep into injury time and one minute in John Magani had a chance following great skill and awareness from Chris Hawkins but Magani's shot was saved from twenty yards out. Next, Sam Reason had a free kick punched away by Logan before Paul Davis rose to meet a Tony Macek corner but the head from Davis was booted away off the line by the Bishops Cleeve defence.

Bassett were let down again by more silly errors and need to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they host Abingdon Town before their floodlit cup encounter with local rivals Fairford. Bassett went a long way in that competition last year and will be looking to go the distance this year as Lee Stoddart and Jeremy Newton come back to their old stomping ground.

Manager's Man of the Match: Paul Davis

Scoop's Man of the Match: Paul Davis – came close twice at the end and didn't do anything wrong for most of the game.

Scoop Rating: 6/10 – Two more errors cost Bassett a point, easily could have came away with something after the amount of chances created.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Thursday 3rd September 2020 at 08:58