Woodmarsh, 25th April 2006

They say all good things have to come to an end, but when they do its feels like a kick in the teeth, it hurts. Just ask Paul Burke's side as a 1-0 defeat away to Trowbridge brought to an end an unbeaten league spell that stretched from the end of January.

Dean Barker's initiative was the difference between the two sides as nothing fell Bassett's way. Golden opportunities in the second half weren't taken as Bassett's domination of the last 45 minutes couldn't muster that vital goal.

Against the slope, Bassett created a couple of openings early on. First a Paul Crabtree header from 15 yards was saved before Jon Davis blazed just over from 25 yards.

On eleven minutes Dan Kovacs looked to have given the home side the lead but a fine save from John Haines, just getting his hand to the ball to palm away, denied him.

Three minutes later a surging run from the ever inspirational and gutsy Steve Yeardley ended up in Daniel Barnes upending him in the box but cries for a penalty were waived away. A minute later Barker struck.

Michael Barnes played a low curling ball headed for the far post but Barker stuck a leg out, redirecting the ball and wrong-footing Haines who could only get a hand to the ball.

A minute later a Matty Bennett free kick was flicked onto Rich Gee at the far post. Gee could only head wide.

Trowbridge then squandered three good chances to double the lead. Haines saved from Barker before Yeardley blocked an effort of his that was heading goalwards six yards out.

On 34 minutes Ben Gascoyne was caught in possession allowing Kovacs to feed Barker. The goalscorer tried lobbing the oncoming Haines but the ball failed to dip and went just over.

If Burke was frustrated by his sides' first half performance, the second was even more frustrating.

Seven minutes in Chris Mills was introduced to add another attacking spark as Crabtree was brought off.

Five minutes later a John Magani through ball to Bennett bobbled and Bennett could only fire over from 15 yards before Chris Tricker was booked for dissent.

Great intervention from Davis ensured Barker couldn't double his tally as Davis slid to avert a 15-yard shot wide.

Mills then failed to connect properly with a Bennett cross and his glancing header went wide before Hemsley had a long range effort deflected inches wide. Steve Bunting replaced Hemsley with nineteen minutes left.

In the 74th minute Nathan Hall flicked on a long Gascoyne throw and the ball trickled across the face of goal before going out for a goal kick. Three minutes later a Mills shot from 20-yards was fumbled by mistake-prone Tom Sheppard before eventually being cleared.

Bennett tested him from 20-yards with eight minutes left but Sheppard did enough to parry before a mazy Gascoyne run and shot from the edge of the area rolled an inch wide of the right post.

A long Bunting throw was flicked on by Mills to Yeardley in the dying seconds. Yeardley, ten yards out, hit wide though.

Bassett's frustrations then showed as a foul on Gascoyne was followed by a melee, Gascoyne and Dave Mitchell being cautioned for their involvement.

One final chance followed. A Davis free kick to the far post found the head of Yeardley before Andy Hallett got the final touch but the ball only found the side netting.

With the final whistle came the end of a hell of a streak that spanned 14 games. And it hurt. But the team should be proud of what they achieved. Following the defeat by Cricklade on January 21st promotion was a long shot but they battled and the dream became something real, something within touching distance. I'm proud of what Paul and co. have done, damn proud. And they should be too.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Steve Yeardley – put his body on the line as usual and worked tirelessly all night. Has led from the front all year and didn't get what he deserved when he missed in the final minute.

Scoop Rating: 5/10 – Another extremely frustrating night that could have gone Bassett's way in the end but didn't. Trowbridge were lucky to take all three points, the better team just couldn't convert chances into goals.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Wednesday 2nd September 2020 at 09:19