Rylands Way, Saturday 22 November 2003

Three goals from high-flyers Brackley Town saw off Bassett as, again, defensive errors cost Bassett dear; Matt Bennett got on the scoresheet for the home side early in the second half but that wasn't enough. Two from Andy Baird and another from Simon Dunlop secured the three points went to Brackley.

Rich Stevens was under pressure early on for Bassett when after only six minutes had gone Darren Beckett sent a through ball to Baird whose first shot was parried by Stevens but the rebound hit the side netting.

Nine minutes on, Stevens was called into action again, this time tipping away a troublesome Neil King cross. In the 19th minute Ben Milner fired straight at Stevens from the edge of the area.

King had a try at Stevens from twenty yards out in the 24th minute but again Stevens saved. Bassett had their first chance of the game came from a Ben Gascoyne free kick on the right wing which Paul Davis headed wide.

It was inevitable that Brackley were going to take the lead and that happened nine minutes from the break; Milner crossing in and Baird connecting with it from ten yards out, heading Brackley in the lead. A minute later Baird headed into the side netting when he reached a King cross once more.

In the 38th minute Geoff Swatton nearly equalised for Bassett, connecting with an Andy Hallett ball – timing his run to perfection – he then lobbed 'keeper Matt Finlay but the ball trickled past the post.

Two minutes on a Steve Yeardley foul on King resulted in a booking for Yeardley. Kai Ridley whipped in the free kick, whilst Stevens was still sorting out his wall and again Baird connected with it heading home once more, doubling Brackley's advantage.

After the restart Matt Bennett was presented with a great chance to halve the deficit before the break when John Magani laid off to him but Bennett sputtered with his first touch and his shot went wide.

Bennett made up for his missed opportunity one minute after half time when Rob Hopkins crossed in for him and Bennett blasted home from ten yards out after the ball deflected to his feet.

Brackley struck back within five minutes however when Dunlop went through a Rich Willis tackle and struck in from twenty yards out untouched.

In the 64th minute another defensive error this time from Andy Hallett allowed Beckett a chance on goal but Stevens saved with his feet. Bassett made their first change two minutes later when Nathan Hall made his first first team appearance since returning from venture around the globe, he replaced John Magani.

Geoff Swatton came close in the 73rd minute for Bassett, hitting wide from just outside the box. Bassett made a double change bringing on Sam Reason and Paul Patel for Ben Gascoyne and Andy Hallett.

Mark Vaughan received a caution for Bassett ten minutes from time before in the 84th minute poor defending allowed substitute Andy Prescott through who shot straight at Stevens. Prescott was booked a minute later.

In injury time Matt Bennett had a shot from the edge of the area saved before a Neil King rocket from twenty yards out rattled the post.

The result was frustrating for Bassett after performing well throughout but they came away with nothing. A crunch match against Highworth on Tuesday is a must win now to get Bassett out of the bottom regions of the table. An upset maybe on the cards if they perform with the same desire they did in this match.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Rich Stevens – made some great saves to deny what may have been a match with a cricket score.

Scoop Rating: 7/10 – A spirited performance but Bassett now need to convert in front of goal.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Friday 4th September 2020 at 15:40