Rylands Way, Saturday 27 December 2003

Bobby Gould (Chogi's hero) managed a win with his bottom of the table Gloucester side against a lacklustre Bassett who were without a proper 'keeper; Mick 'Neil Sullivan' Byrne was standing in.

A first Bassett goal for Stewart Bellinger was little consolation as Tom Radcliffe, Nathan Haisley and Steve Jenkins saw off what looked like a strong Bassett side on paper.

Both teams were shaky to start with - Karl Palmer and Nathan Hall had chances for both teams, but both failed to convert.

In the 27th minute Gary Morrison nearly gave the visitors the lead when he made a great run but his shot was saved by Byrne. A minute later Haisley hit wide from close range after Morrison had put him through.

Jenkins gave Gloucester the lead on the half hour mark when he hit first time a John Knight corner into the roof of the net from eighteen yards – even Neil Sullivan couldn't have saved that!

Two Radcliffe shots inside a minute nearly doubled the lead for Gloucester. Seven minutes from the break Stu Lamont hit wide from twenty yards, picking up a knock in the process and was subsequently replaced by Ben Gascoyne.

Bassett had another good opportunity just before half time when John Magani played through Geoff Swatton whose shot went under 'keeper Nick Blakeway but skidded wide. Haisley hit over a free kick from twenty yards just before the break.

Gloucester hit very quickly after the break scoring straight from the restart when Tom Radcliffe found Mick Byrne off his line and lobbed him from the halfway line. Stewart Bellinger got one back four minutes later when he coolly slotted home from five yards.

A flurry of bookings followed as first Steve Jenkins was booked for retaliation ten minutes into the second half. Two minutes later Steve Yeardley was booked for a late foul. Again two minutes later John Knight was booked and should have been sent off minutes later for a foul on Nathan Hall. Neil 'put me in goal' Bridges replaced Hall a minute later.

Bassett continued to waste chances as they were either caught offside or the chances went begging. In the 70th minute a long Ben Gascoyne throw was headed over by Rich Willis.

Six minutes from time Stuart Watkins had a shot saved a minute before getting booked. Gloucester sealed the game in the 87th minute when a Yeardley error was taken advantage of by Haisley who lobbed Byrne from twenty yards. A minute into stoppage time Yeardley hit well wide from twenty five yards.

Another poor result puts Bassett in even more danger and a tough month ahead including Bishops Cleeve away, the return fixture against Michael Meaker and friends (Southall) and also Almondsbury and Abingdon.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Stewart Bellinger – him and Rich Willis were the only two worth applauding for their work ethic.

Scoop Rating: 4/10 – A poor result which could have big implications come April.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Friday 4th September 2020 at 15:49