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Lack of Finishing Costs Bassett Once More

Rylands Way, Sunday 29th August 2004

Wootton Bassett Town now have four points from three games. This should read six points from three games if it were not for poor finishing in front of goal and a silly error late against Pewsey Vale in front of a bumper crowd of over 250.

The ground hoppers who came to the match were in for a tight scrap and the game finished 1-1 with goals from the impressive Dave Tyler for Bassett and Micky Martin for the visitors Pewsey.

There were few chances early on with the best falling to Martin of Pewsey in the eighth minute. Ex-Forest Green 'keeper Chris Giannangelo was caught off his line after some sloppy defending and Martin fired from eighteen yards but Mark Vaughan blocked the shot and cleared.

Matt Bennett shot a powerful free kick wide in the 25th minute before twelve minutes later a deflected shot of his from the edge of the area was comfortably held by Lee Wilson.

Dave Tyler then gave Bassett the lead in the 42nd minute. Andy Hallett picked out Andy Youngsam with a superb through ball before Youngsam cut back and crossed the ball in to Tyler from the left and Tyler slotted in from fifteen yards out.

Giannangelo easily held a long range Nick Dodd free kick in the 45th minute before in stoppage time, John Magani connected with a Hallett cross at the other end but Magani's glancing header fell wide.

Four minutes after the restart a cross field ball from Ben Gascoyne met Bennett who ran on and headed over 'keeper Wilson but the ball went wide.

Andy Youngsam then had a great chance to double the advantage in the 59th minute when a long goal kick from Rich Willis sailed over the Pewsey defence to the oncoming Bassett forward, Youngsam took the ball but hit a poor shot past Wilson and wide.

Geoff Swatton replaced John Magani on the hour mark to add more aggression up front.

Craig Wall shot just over from a tight angle in the 64th minute after taking the ball past Steve Yeardley. Steve Bunting then replaced Dave Tyler who had to come off due to a bleeding nose in the 71st minute; Tyler had had a very good game to this point.

Thirteen minutes from time, Bunting shot over for Bassett from twenty yards after Swatton played a testing cross across goal.

A minute later, Swatton hit over from fifteen yards after a great run down the left as Andy Youngsam was left waiting unmarked in the middle of the box.

In the 80th minute Bennett came close again as he hit wide from the edge of the area after Youngsam squared the ball to him.

Disaster struck for Bassett two minutes later when a stupid foul by Steve Yeardley put Pewsey in a good position. Tom Ritchie swung in the free kick which Giannangelo spilt after having Andy Hallett pushed into him, and Martin tapped in the rebound from ten yards.

Steve Bunting and Craig Wall then had half chances for either side as both sides gained a valuable point.

Manager's Man of the Match: Matt Bennett

Scoop's Man of the Match: Matt Bennett – Played brilliantly all evening, causing plenty of problems for Pewsey. Should flourish more this season after an impressive start.

Scoop Rating: 7/10 – Poor finishing and defending cost Bassett two valuable points. Great performance by wingers Gascoyne and Bennett as they dominated Pewsey for most of the game.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Friday 11th September 2020 at 09:27