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No Better Time for Bassett than Injury Time

The Triangle Ground, Tuesday 21st September 2004

Matt Bennett gave Bassett their second win of the season with a goal five minutes into injury time as Bassett came out on top against Henley Town in a game in which Bassett could have secured the game by half time.

Henley had the first opening of the game on three minutes as Darren Ritchie blasted over after a ball from the left picked him out unmarked.

Bassett then created a streak of good chances.

Firstly, Moses Greene shot wide from the edge of the area following good work by Ben Gascoyne to pick the debutant out.

In the 20th minute, Gascoyne played the ball to Dave Tyler who shot from just outside the box but Peter Little held onto the ball.

Matt Bennett struck wide after a good run in the 31st minute as Bassett continued to fail to find the back of the net as they dominated their opposition in the final third.

Gascoyne again created a good chance on 38 minutes. He laid the ball to John Magani whose shot on the turn went just wide of the post.

Magani and Gascoyne again combined a minute later as they played a neat one-two around the Henley defence but Gascoyne's shot failed to hit the target.

Little made another good stop three minutes before the break as Greene played a crossfield ball into Bennett's stride and his first time effort was parried away.

Magani then wasted a great opportunity to give Bassett the lead. Magani beat the offside trap as Benntt played through a neat through ball and Little came to close down Magani. The Bassett forward took it round Little before shooting but didn't do enough and the ball went wide.

In first half stoppages, Steve Yeardley played a quick free kick to Magani who rolled his defender but his shot from a tight angle went the wrong side of the post.

Bassett continued where they left off in the second half and a minute in Gascoyne found Yeardley but the defender – who is inexperienced in front of goal – had his shot deflected wide.

On 50 minutes, Stu Hemsley and Matt Bennett combined before Bennett swung a cross in but Magani's glancing header went wide.

Greene had a decent chance for Bassett but Little saved before Ritchie played a ball square to teammate Robin Howell but his shot went over.

Andrew Malone then came close for Henley in the 60th minute before John Grant replaced Yeardley who picked up a slight knock.

An off the ball foul by Howell earned him a booking before Bassett made another sub bringing the impressive Greene off and Andy Youngsam on to replace him.

Henley threatened again fifteen minutes from time when a glancing header by Michael Herbert from a Danny Seaward cross went wind. Five minutes later Peter Bryan found the post for the home side as h headed on a Phillip Wide set piece unmarked.

At the other end a Lee Morse shot from the edge of the area wasn't cleared by the Henley defence and Magani picked up the loose ball but his shot was tipped over.

Magani gave way to Harry Sandhu on ninety minutes before Bennett stormed in with the winner.

A punt upfield from Rob Hopkins caused problems for the Henley defence and went over the top of them and Bennett ran on to the loose ball and chipped in over the oncoming Little to give Bassett a deserved three points.

Manager's Man of the Match: Ben Gascoyne

Scoop's Man of the Match: Ben Gascoyne – an outstanding performance for the whole ninety minutes. Never gave up and deserved at least an assist if the Bassett front two had converted their chances

Scoop Rating: 8/10 – a great performance getting what the team deserved albeit five minutes into injury time. Needed to convert earlier chances to kill game off before injury time.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Thursday 17th September 2020 at 09:30