Chiseldon Castrol FC, Saturday 15 November 2003

Two second half goals from John Magani put Bassett through to the next round of the Wilts Senior Cup defeating Chiseldon 2-1. Ex-Bassett player CJ O'Connell was on target for the home team.

Bassett were unlucky not to be ahead after only five minutes when Stu Lamont played through Geoff Swatton who instead of going alone laid off to Matty Bennett whose shot was tipped onto the bar and over by Paul Churchward.

Swatton found the woodwork a minute later as his shot from eight yards clipped the upright and went wide. In the twelfth minute he bicycle kicked over.

Churchward denied Sam Reason of a goal in the 28th minute as the Chiseldon 'keeper tipped over the twenty five yard effort.

Chiseldon began to create some dangerous attacks as the Bassett defence was being caught by the pace of CJ O'Connell at times.

At the other end Churchward kept Chiseldon from going behind once more as Rich Willis cracked a shot him from ten yards which was tipped wide. Six minutes later he kept out a whipped in Matty Bennett free kick.

Chiseldon found themselves ahead five minutes from the break when Nick Camden chipped over the oncoming Rich Stevens which meant O'Connell only had to tap in.

Bassett were nearly level before the break when in the 43rd minute Churchward palmed away a Bennett header from a Tony Macek corner.

With Lamont anxious to watch the Jocks come away (luckily) with a win from the Dutch thanks to wee James McFadden the officials decided it was the right time to delay the game for a couple of minutes. I say wait for the second leg.

When the second half did begin it was Bassett who came closest first when four minutes after the restart Geoff Swatton blasted wide from twenty yards.

Bassett were level though just before the hour mark when Swatton swung a cross in from the right which John Magani side-footed into the back of the net. Mark Simpkins was brought on for Sam Reason in the 75th minute.

A minute after the change Bassett nearly took the lead again when Matt Bennett put in Swatton who volleyed over from fifteen yards.

In the 69th minute Rob Hopkins was booked for a late challenge on CJ O'Connell. This before Mark Vaughan was introduced into the game for Stu Lamont.

A half cleared Macek free kick fell to Swatton fifteen minutes from time but the Bassett forward struck wide. Two minutes later another half cleared Macek set piece fell this time to Steve Yeardley who volleyed over from the edge of the area.

Bassett sealed the win seven minutes from time when a Swatton ball fell to Magani who took the ball round Churchward, zigzagged his way through some more defenders and slotted home.

Magani should have had a hat trick when, two minutes into stoppage time he found himself one-on-one with Churchward but shot straight at the oncoming keeper.

Not the easiest win for Bassett but it will give them momentum going into tough games with Brackley and promotion chasers North Leigh.

Giler's Man of the Match: Andy Hallett

Scoop's Man of the Match: Geoff Swatton – thoroughly deserved a goal; worked hard all game.

Scoop Rating: 7/10 – Not the best winning performance but Bassett were the better team all day.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Friday 4th September 2020 at 15:39