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Matty Miss Condemns Bassett To Yet Another Defeat

Rylands Way, Saturday 27th November 2004

Matty Bennett missed from the penalty spot with eight minutes to go as Henley Town got away with a 1-0 win in a game littered with controversy. The solitary goal came from James Hancock with eight minutes gone in the second half.

The first half had more yellow cards produced than chances and the first half chance fell to Bassett on twelve minutes – Chris Mills connecting with an Ash Bradshaw ball, which was easily saved by Gary Clarke.

Three minutes later, Ray Spence fired over on his own after Matt Foley played Spence through with a neat through ball.

On 22 minutes, Michael Meaker was cautioned for Henley after a foul on Bradshaw and comments made to the referee.

In the 26th minute, Ian Gill produced a great save in the Bassett goal as he tipped a Justin Keane shot onto the crossbar and over for a corner.

The last eight minutes of the half produced two more cautions as Justin Keane and Geoff Swatton were booked.

A minute after half time, Peter Bryan should have made it 1-0 to the visitors but he hit wide from five yards out after Gill made a good save, parrying a shot, only for it to fall at Bryan's feet.

Carlton Mitchell was booked for dissent before Hancock gave Henley the lead – hitting in at the back post following a ball from Bryan.

Stu Hemsley then had a free kick disallowed for pushing on Clarke before Ben Gascoyne replaced Tom Messenger.

Bassett kept giving away the ball and providing Henley with chances which were generally wasted by the ineffective Meaker.

Geoff Swatton hit over on 65 minutes as his powerful effort blazed over the bar before Dave Tyler was cautioned for a foul.

Leigh Jones replaced Chris Mills with fourteen minutes to go and then Spence had a shot easily held by Gill a minute later after a ball from Ashley Keane.

With six minutes left, Bassett were awarded a penalty – Bennett being upended in the box. Clarke however, after many protests from Henley, saved the penalty easily, diving to his right.

Bassett tried to search for a vital equaliser in vain in the final few minutes as Rich Willis headed just wide from a Bradshaw corner.

Mark King then replaced the injured Ben Gascoyne before King was booked within two minutes of coming on for a cheap foul.

The game ended on a sour note as a small fracas developed at the final whistle, resulting in a Henley player being sent off.

It was another disappointing day for Pete Yeardley's men as the team have now gained only two points from their last ten league matches.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Richard Gee – kept Michael Meaker from doing anything all game, strong in the air and was in Meaker's pocket for the majority of the match.

Scoop Rating: 6/10 – Poor passing cost Bassett from creating chances in front of goal but an average performance all round.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Tuesday 15th September 2020 at 10:07