Rylands Way, Tuesday 10 February 2004

Bassett Town were on the wrong end of another close game as some poor defending cost them a point as they went down 4-2 to Hungerford Town. All six goals came in a topsy-turvy second half.

The Bassett defence held out for the first half but some sloppy defending almost cost them the lead early on.

Marc Green came close first for the visitors but he hit wide on nine minutes. Seven minutes on, Martin Fox missed an open goal six yards out from a corner that fell loose.

Hungerford continued to pressure and Richard Witt was unlucky on 22 minutes when he took the ball round the Bassett defence but hit the side netting from eight yards out.

Bassett continued to stumble and were unable to find a key outlet in Matty Bennett. On 37 minutes, John Magani came close for the home side but he hit wide on the turn. Two minutes later Geoff Swatton received a caution for retaliation.

Swatton blasted over two minutes before the break after Tony Macek played across to Bassett's leading scorer. Swatton hit wide in first half stoppage time leaving the score deadlocked at the break.

Swatton hit the bar two minutes into the second half with a cross from the right that beat Hungerford 'keeper David Leno. Bassett brought Tony Macek off two minutes later, replacing him with Carl Taylor.

Hungerford took the lead on 50 minutes when Shaun Thorp clipped in a Green free kick unmarked.

It was two-nil in the 52nd minute when Martin Fox had a free head from a Thorp corner and headed straight past Rich Stevens.

Bassett halved the lead four minutes later when they broke away from a Hungerford attack and Swatton chipped the ball over Leno after beating the offside trap.

Hungerford nearly increased their lead once more in the 58th minute when Green ran through the Bassett defence untouched but shot wide.

Richard Gee was booked for Bassett a minute later before Bassett were awarded a penalty in the 65th minute when Mark Vaughan was upended in the box. Leno was booked for dissent before Swatton coolly sent the 'keeper the wrong way and tied the game up.

Hungerford regained the lead through some bad judgement by Rich Stevens as Gareth Evans blasted in a thirty five yard free kick on 68 minutes.

Bassett brought a fresh pair of legs on in Ben Gascoyne on 71 minutes as he replaced Matty Bennett.

Fourteen minutes from time Green secured Hungerford the three points as he intercepted a soft Carl Taylor backpass, he then took the ball round the stranded Stevens and tapped home.

Bassett brought on an extra attacking option in Dave Jones three minutes later, replacing Steve Yeardley.

Swatton could have got Bassett back in the game five minutes from the end when Leno tipped away a blasted 20 yard shot.

Dave Jones hit wide a quick free kick in the 86th minute before Marc Green found himself in the book, but could have gone, for improper use of the English language.

Bassett have two games coming up which they could get a vital six points from as they play mid-table Chipping Norton and then second from bottom Pewsey Vale in two hugely important games.

Manager's Man of the Match: John Magani

Scoop's Man of the Match: Geoff Swatton – deserved both goals and could have had more was it not for Hungerford 'keeper David Leno

Scoop Rating: 7/10 – Some sloppy defending cost Bassett points against another high flying side. Need wins fast if Bassett are to beat the drop.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 5th September 2020 at 12:36