Walterbush Road, Saturday 8 November 2003

Chipping Norton Town saw off Bassett with a 3-0 victory leaving Bassett with some catching up to do as they continue to slide down the table.

Jason Court started the scoring just before the break and then an onslaught of Chipping Norton attacks paved the way for further goals from Leon Canning and Mark Odom.

The first half was a scrappy affair mainly because of the awful state of the pitch. After eleven minutes John Magani was presented with a fine opportunity after a Steve Yeardley cross, but from six yards out a weak header from Magani fell straight into Richard Barrett's hands – certainly a chance Bassett should have taken.

Two minutes later Bassett debutant Steve Bisley was lobbed by Robbie Wyatt from twenty yards only for the ball to bounce over the crossbar. Bisley made an error from the resulting goal kick as it got caught in the high winds, the ball fell to Odom who hit wide from twenty yards.

Quarter way through the first half Geoff Swatton hit a free kick over from the edge of the area. At the other end Wyatt hit wide from fifteen yards.

Wyatt's partner in crime Odom hit the bar on thirty three minutes from twenty yards from a ball over the top which caught the Bassett defence napping. He blasted over as well minutes later after another defence splitting ball.

Three minutes from the break Odom played through Steve Tavinor who hit over from ten yards. Then two minutes into injury time a foul that Bassett thought to be obstruction which would have meant an indirect free kick caught Bisley out as Court took the kick quickly and placed the ball in the back of the net direct from the free kick before Bisley had even set up his wall properly.

Bassett kept Norton out for the start of the second half but still didn't have the cutting edge up front that they needed. Twenty minutes in Neil Bridges replaced John Magani.

Two minutes after Bridges' entrance he played a perfect ball to Geoff Swatton who took on one but had the ball smothered at his feet by Barrett.

In the 68th minute a good looking Wyatt cross went right across the Bassett goal untouched. On seventy minutes Bridges was put through by Swatton, rounded the 'keeper but didn't shoot taking too many touches and the attack broke down. Sam Reason was brought on for Paul Patel fifteen minutes from time.

Immediately following, Odom shot at Bisley who saved but Canning picked up the loose ball tapping in from five yards. This coming from a mistake by Richard Gee as he was caught too high up the pitch.

Nine minutes from time Wyatt took on both Andy Hallett and Mark Simpkins but his shot from a tight angle was deflected wide for a corner. Two minutes later he struck wide from the edge of the area.

Gee was replaced by Mick Byrne six minutes from time as Bassett threw everything at Chipping Norton.

Three minutes after the change Ben Gascoyne fed the ball to Geoff Swatton who hit over after being one-on-one with Barrett.

In the 89th minute it was game, set and match for Chipping Norton as Wyatt ran through the Bassett defence and laid off to Odom who just tapped in to seal the win.

Bassett need some big results with Pewsey, Brackley and North Leigh coming up. Pewsey will be especially important as both teams are currently at the wrong end of the table and both having poor form of late.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Steve Yeardley and Ben Gascoyne – both battled hard all game; not ducking out of any challenges.

Scoop Rating: 5/10 – Another frustrating performance; no goals are coming from anywhere and the defence is currently leaking goals at will.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Friday 4th September 2020 at 15:35