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Wantage Town
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WBTFC Scorers:
Matt Bennett

Wantage Win as Bassett Again Throw Away Lead

Rylands Way, Saturday September 18 2004

Bassett once again found themselves on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline as Bassett old boys Stu Lamont and Andy Brien were welcomed back to Rylands Way with Wantage Town.

Bassett took the lead in the sixth minute when, at the third time of asking, Matt Bennett fired home from fifteen yards. Paul Belcher denied Dave Tyler and John Magani before Bennett belted in the rebound after Andy Youngsam provided the ball.

The lead lasted two minutes as Adam Giles fired home easily from an Andy Brien corner. Bassett shouldn't have given the corner away in the first place as poor judgment and communication made Steve Yeardley leave the ball to roll out of play even though it had struck a Bassett player last.

Three minutes later, Jonathan Mills was denied as he headed a cross from the left into Lee Flynn's hands.

Lamont was denied in the 14th minute when Flynn saved the Scotsman's header after a Brien cross.

On 21 minutes Flynn tipped away a Mills shot and the rebound was hit well wide after the away side capitalized on a fluffed clearance by Bennett.

Mills came close from a free kick before Brien was booked for pulling back Bennett.

Youngsam played a great ball into the Wantage box in the 33rd minute but Magani failed to add the final touch and the ball was put out for a corner.

In the 43rd minute, Wantage took the lead. Jamie Mills flew past Andy Hallett and Paul Patel before squaring to Jonathan Mills. Mills' first touch was poor but he was allowed to turn on the ball and fired into the far corner past the diving Flynn.

Richie Bourne was then denied by Flynn on the stroke of half time.

Bassett brought Dave Jones on for the struggling Patel at the break to add more firepower in the middle, but Jones struggled with the pace of the game after a long absence from first team action.

Jonathan Mills connected with a long Jamie Mills throw six minutes after the restart but his free header went wide.

Richard Claydon failed to trouble the score sheet three minutes later as he hit over from the edge of the area.

John Grant was then given his Bassett debut in the 65th minute as he replaced Rob Hopkins and three minutes later Mark King replaced Ben Gascoyne as Bassett decided to go for the game.

Bassett lacked urgency in the closing stages, as the Wantage defence led by Scotsman Lamont dealt with any Bassett attack.

Tyler had a shot cleared off the line ten minutes from time after a Bennett corner.

Giles and Flynn then both received bookings for a clash bumping each other as Bassett's frustration started to show.

Gavin Jones then nearly made it three for Wantage as he hit a bicycle kick over unmarked before Youngsam was cheated into a booking as Paul Bedwell made a meal of a perfectly timed challenge.

Bassett need to start showing in games like these, as it was one they could have won three points from. Bassett need to kick start their season starting Tuesday when they face a tough away journey to Henley.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Steve Yeardley – showed composure on the ball and excellent in the tackle all day. He and Andy Hallett were the only two players who stood out all day.

Scoop Rating: 5/10 – Another poor performance following a good one at Didcot midweek.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Thursday 17th September 2020 at 09:45

Wootton Bassett TownWBTFC
Wantage Town
Wootton Bassett Town Logo
1 ‒ 2
Wantage Town Logo

WBTFC Scorers:
Matt Bennett