Wootton Bassett TownWBTFC
Highworth Town
Wootton Bassett Town Logo
0 ‒ 3
Highworth Town Logo

WBTFC Scorers:
None

Down and Out

Rylands Way, 30th April 2005

Wootton Bassett Town couldn't deny Highworth Town the Hellenic Premier Division crown following a 3-0 defeat to their local rivals, which could spell the end to Bassett's spell in the top tier of the Hellenic League.

Highworth were unusually nervous and settled into a defensive style early on and Bassett were able to apply some decent pressure but couldn't produce many chances.

In the 23rd minute Dave Tyler struck from twenty yards out but Elliot Jackson saved well to his right before Daryl Simms was forced to make a good save from Mark Belcher as the Bassett 'keeper turned the shot round the post.

A Shaun Terry shot from a tight angle went just wide of the far post just before the half hour.

Ben Gascoyne fired straight at Elliot in the 32nd minute after cutting in from the byline and striking with his left foot.

Phil Corcoran then grabbed the first of an impressive hat-trick in the 37th minute. The Bassett defence stood off Justin Miller, who squared to Corcoran at the edge of the box and the ex-Fairford forward drove the ball into the bottom corner.

A poor decision by Simms to come off his line two minutes after the restart but Miller was unable to score as the Bassett 'keeper backtracked and smothered the ball.

Two goals in two minutes then finished Bassett off. With 55 minutes gone Simms attempted to clear a long ball over the top but missed the ball and Corcoran easily tapped in with efforts to get back from Rob Hopkins all for nothing.

Then a quickly taken in-swinging free kick from Terry was tapped in by the unmarked Corcoran at the far post.

Bassett, who had put in a spirited display all game, had more pressure to deal with but were able to deal with it before the match took a sour turn with twenty minutes to go.

An Andy Hallett foul on Miller prompted the Highworth forward to turn and grab Hallett by the collar. Miller was sent off whilst Hallett, Steve Yeardley and Highworth midfielder Mark O'Hara were all cautioned.

Mark King was brought on for John Grant with fifteen minutes left to add more options up front but the closest Bassett were to come to finding the back of the net was when Dave Tyler connected with a glancing head from an Ash Bradshaw cross, but the ball went just wide of the far post.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Chris Mills – put in a solid performance out on the wing and supplied the front two with some good ball, which weren't finished. A good performance to round off a solid season for the youngster in his first full season.

Scoop Rating: 7/10 – A good performance as Bassett ran Highworth close for most of the game. The game was there for the taking at half time but the two quick goals killed any real hopes off.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Wednesday 16th September 2020 at 14:23

Wootton Bassett TownWBTFC
Highworth Town
Wootton Bassett Town Logo
0 ‒ 3
Highworth Town Logo

WBTFC Scorers:
None