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Bassett Get Just the Present They Wanted – a Win

Rylands Way, Saturday 18th December 2004

Wootton Bassett Town recorded their first win since October as they secured a spot in the 1st round of the Supplementary Cup after disposing of Pewsey Vale 5-3 on penalties after the tie finished 1-1 after extra time.

Bassett came close first five minutes in as Tom Messenger fired into the side netting after good work between Messenger and Mark King.

King struck wide from twenty yards thirteen minutes later before Bassett were reduced to ten men.

'Keeper Darryl Simms brought down Andy Youngsam outside the box and was given his marching orders and Rich Willis and Steve Bush were both booked following a melee soon after the foul; Rob Hopkins took over the goalkeeper's jersey. Bassett were forced to make another change as well as Stu Hemsley replaced the injured Dave Tyler.

Youngsam then shot over before Lee Morse had the best chance of the half striking a curling effort from twenty-five yards, which Danny Holcroft did brilliantly to keep out.

With five minutes till half time, Youngsam again shot as Rob Hopkins tipped over and this was the closest Pewsey would get in the first period.

Fifteen minutes after the restart, Shaun Grace was dismissed for the visitors for throwing a punch at Steve Yeardley.

Four minutes later, Kevin Montague found the side netting after connecting with a Richard Pearson cross six yards out.

Geoff Swatton came close midway through the second period, Holcroft easily saving from a twenty-yard effort.

With twelve minutes left, Pewsey took the lead as Tom Ritchie struck in on the volley from twenty yards following a corner from the right.

Andy Hallett replaced Mark King in the 81st minute before Craig Wall shot just wide in the 84th.

Bassett drew level two minutes into stoppage time – sending the game to extra time - when Holcroft was caught way off his line and Geoff Swatton chipped the ball to Morse who looped the ball into the back of the net from twenty yards.

Bassett were forced to make a substitution nine minutes into the first period when Swatton took a blow to his arm, Dave Jones was his replacement.

The best chance of the extra period fell to Bush but his shot on the turn after an Andy Hallett mistake went wide.

The game went to penalties and Rich Willis blasted Bassett's first in off the bar before Ritchie and Steve Yeardley converted theirs. Phil Penning stepped up to take Pewsey's second, but he blasted over before Messenger and Bush converted to make it 3-2 to Bassett.

Stu Hemsley scored to make it 4-2 before Tony Hurkett made it 4-3. Morse needed to convert his to win the game and did, placing the ball in the bottom corner to secure a much-needed victory for Bassett, albeit in the Supplementary Cup.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Lee Morse – battled all game along, deservedly scoring the goal to send the game into extra time and converted the winning penalty.

Scoop Rating: 8/10 – A good team performance earned Bassett a much needed victory. Gives the side confidence going into their huge game next Monday against the same side.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Tuesday 15th September 2020 at 13:47