Wootton Bassett TownWBTFC
Slimbridge
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WBTFC Scorers:
Matt Bennett (2)

Early Collapse Sends Bassett Out For Second Time

Rylands Way, 19th October 2004

Three goals from Slimbridge in the first 25 minutes sent Bassett Town crashing out of the Floodlit Cup for the second time as they fell to a 3-2 loss in a game which looked like it could have been a drubbing if it wasn't for Matt Bennett.

On three minutes, Chris Mills stopped a Craig Cole shot from the edge of the area before Slimbridge took the lead a minute later – Cole the supplier.

Cole beat Andy Hallett down the byline and played the ball across goal for Richard Evans to slide in and put the ball past the wrong-footed Mills.

Mills palmed away from Steve Badham in the 12th minute following an Evans lay off as Bassett were let off the hook once more.

The lead was doubled a minute later with Rich Moore nodding in from inside the six yard box after Mike Green's header rebounded off the post following a Badham ball from the right.

Rob Hopkins helped Bassett from conceding the third in the 21st minute when Badham beat Mills with a header but Hopkins swept the ball away.

Inevitably, Slimbridge made it three in the 23rd minute when James Ackland delivered a beautiful free kick over the top of the wall from twenty yards and the ball dipped in past the outstretched Mills.

Matt Bennett cut the deficit in the 25th minute as a curling shot of his from the edge of the area beat Alan Knott in the Slimbridge goal after a Rich Willis flick on.

A minute later Willis deceived the Slimbridge defence taking with him two men after a Steve Bunting ball, which fell to Dave Tyler, but Knott saved Tyler's shot.

Knott denied Matt Bennett and Lee Morse both before the break as Bassett dominated the final twenty minutes of the first half following a disastrous start.

Richard Gee made his long awaited comeback ten minutes after the restart as he replaced Steve Yeardley and Gee looked composed at the back which is a good sign following the poor defensive start to the year.

With a little help from the Rylands Way pitch, Matt Bennett grabbed his second as he latched onto a Willis through ball and Bennett's shot from the edge of the area took a bobble in front of Knott and the 'keeper couldn't stop the ball from finding the back of the net.

Ashley Thomas was lucky to stay on the pitch just after the hour mark as a late lunge on Bennett earned Thomas a booking, which could have been much worse.

Bassett made a double change with twenty minutes left as Andy Youngsam and Moses Greene replaced Stu Hemsley and Bennett, who is unavailable against Highworth due to his involvement in a county match much to the displeasure of manager Pete Yeardley.

Andy Hallett received a booking eight minutes from time as Bassett failed to grab the equaliser and Slimbridge's Julian Freeman nearly made it four three minutes from the end but his glancing header from an Evans cross went agonizingly wide.

Giler's Man of the Match: Dave Tyler

Scoop's Man of the Match: Rich Willis – created confusion and trouble for the Slimbridge defence and supplied Bennett with both goals.

Scoop Rating: 7/10 – Apart from the first twenty-five minutes, it was a good performance against a good Slimbridge side but three errors cost Bassett dearly.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Friday 11th September 2020 at 09:50

Wootton Bassett TownWBTFC
Slimbridge
Wootton Bassett Town Logo
2 ‒ 3
Slimbridge Logo

WBTFC Scorers:
Matt Bennett (2)