Meadow Park, Wednesday 7 April 2004

Bassett continued their winning streak with a deserved 2-1 win away at Gloucester United. The game was settled in the first half with goals from Matt Bennett and Mark Hammond. Gloucester came back with a penalty from Tim Jenkins. This win meant Bassett earned their twelfth point from a possible fifteen with their fourth win in five.

John Magani could have opened up the scoring on fourteen minutes when he was on the end of a Bennett cross but his first touch was disappointing and 'keeper Joe Goodwin was able to parry away and scramble to collect the loose ball.

Ian Gill wasn't troubled by a Adam Screech shot two minutes later before John Knight was cautioned for a foul on Stuart Hemsley.

Bennett came close again midway through the half when he took the ball round the Gloucester defence but his shot was parried away from six yards out.

On 35 minutes Bennett finally gave Bassett the lead when he and Magani linked up well down the right to set up Geoff Swatton whose shot was saved by Goodwin but Bennett came in at the far post to fire into an open net.

A minute later Hammond doubled the lead when Goodwin spilled an eighteen yard effort from Bennett and Hammond crept in to score from the rebound.

Gloucester were awarded a dubious penalty four minutes from the break when it seemed as though the foul was committed outside of the box but Tim Jenkins stepped up and coolly sent Gill the wrong way.

Gloucester gained confidence from this and before half time Stuart Watkins and Screech had good chances but squandered them both.

At the start of the second half Screech was denied by Gill before in the 57 minute Gill produced a fine save from point blank range after Jamie Inch connected with a Jenkins corner and Gill superbly tipped the ball over the crossbar.

Knight gave the Bassett defence another nervous moment two minutes later when he shot a Jenkins ball just over the bar.

Jenkins continued to provide dangerous balls and again Gloucester came close after Nathan Haisley headed wide another well timed Jenkins ball. Substitute Tom Radcliffe had a shot from the edge of the area deflected wide in the 64th minute before Bassett finally relieved themselves of the mounting pressure and came close as Geoff Swatton bent a free kick from just outside the box wide.

Gill saved from a Haisley shot after the home side forward was put through by a Paul Taylor ball.

Bassett brought Steve Dixey on for Mark Hammond fifteen minutes from time before Andy Hallett was booked for a foul.

Swatton again came close eleven minutes from the end as Steve Bunting was replaced by Ben Gascoyne.

Gascoyne set up Bennett just before the end as Swatton laid back the substitutes throw but Bennett's shot was held by Goodwin.

Bennett hit the post with a dangerous free kick during stoppage time, Swatton having the rebound tipped over. Gascoyne was injured during the six minutes of stoppages and replaced by Ben Jarrett.

Bassett now have two derbies in a row to deal with – firstly Fairford and then Highworth on Easter Monday, who will be wanting revenge for their defeat earlier in the year.

Manager's Man of the Match: Richard Gee

Scoop's Man of the Match: Matt Bennett – caused trouble all game and could have had more than the single goal he got in the game.

Scoop Rating: 8/10 – A brilliant performance to head into Easter with. Need to continue this form to get out the bottom four – which is now very much achievable.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 5th September 2020 at 15:15