The Warren, Saturday 13 September 2003

Bassett slumped to a fifth straight defeat after being taken to the cleaners 3-0 by Southall Town after Chris Glynn, Joe Lyons and Dale Godfrey found the back of the net for the London side. Bassett were without John Magani, Mark Vaughan and Paul Davis for this match and coming in were youngster Leigh Jones, Chris Jones and Neil Bridges.

Bassett were the first to be tested in the match when on eight minutes Rich Stevens failed to deal with a corner but the Bassett defence cleared a Lee Gardner header off the line. Ross Christie then gathered the loose ball but he hit wide from the edge of the area.

Former QPR and Wales striker Michael Meaker laid Gavin Hart through in the fourteenth minute but Hart's shot went wide. Christie then came close three minutes later for the Londoners when he was allowed to run through the Bassett defence unchallenged but Rich Stevens saved his shot well.

Southall continued to be the more creative of the two teams with Bassett hardly threatening in front of goal, and on twenty two minutes Ashley Keane struck a free kick from just outside the area well wide after a Meaker earned a free kick in a dangerous position.

Two minutes later and Southall were ahead as Meaker put a corner in and the unmarked Chris Glynn rose to meet the ball with his head and make it one-nil to the home side.

Bassett were beginning to threaten in front of goal and on twenty eight minutes some great work down the right wing by Carl Taylor and Mark Simpkins enabled Simpkins to put in a perfect cross but no one was there to meet it in the box. Bassett continued to do this as some good football was being played by both sides.

In the 36th minute Bassett countered quickly to a squandered Southall attack when Geoff Swatton was gifted a perfect scoring opportunity after rounding two defenders but then Swatton seemed to be pulled back. The referee stopped play and gave Southall a free kick. Swatton protested and in return was cautioned.

Bassett went into the break a goal down but had had a good first half of football keeping out Southall's playmaker Michael Meaker for most of the time.

Bassett brought Ben Gascoyne on at half time for Chris Jones and put Neil Bridges back into midfield as Gascoyne went upfront.

On 48 minutes Lee Gardner shot wide from twenty five yards for the home side as he found himself unmarked and with time to shoot. Three minutes later Mark Simpkins hit a twenty five yard free kick straight at Ben Miles and Miles easily dealt with the shot. Richard Gee got into the book a minute later after winning the ball but still referee Coater blew his whistle.

Bassett began to start opening up the Southall defence and on 56 minutes Tony Macek and Simpkins combined to play through Swatton who laid off to Ben Gascoyne but the shot from Gascoyne was well saved.

Lee Gardner continued to cause Bassett trouble and in the 64th minute he hit wide after producing a fine run.

On seventy minutes Tony Macek hit over for Bassett from a half cleared Geoff Swatton cross before two minutes later Richard Gee took too long on the ball for Bassett and Chris Glynn put Meaker through but Meaker shot wide.

Then a minute on Southall increased their lead when Gardner played Joe Lyons through who went past Carl Taylor and hit the ball in with the outside of his foot.

Bassett made a double switch on 76 minutes when Andy Hallett and Sam Reason were replaced by Leigh Jones and Rob Hopkins.

Bassett continued to try and find a way back and were struck a killer blow three minutes from time when substitute Dale Godfrey scored for Southall from a Meaker ball after running into the box unmarked. Godfrey nearly got his second in injury time but hit over from twenty five yards.

Bassett slumped to their fifth defeat in a row and need to win away to Hungerford to get confidence going into the FA Vase game at Bemerton Heath.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Steve Yeardley – did well to keep Michael Meaker out all game.

Scoop Rating: 6/10 – An average performance as the scoreline didn't reflect the game. Bassett need now to start scoring as they haven't scored in five straight games.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Thursday 3rd September 2020 at 09:04