Rylands Way, 23rd August 2005

Two identical headers from Stu Hemsley brought Wootton Bassett Town back from 3-1 down to an improbable 4-3 win with Lee Marshall bagging the winner in the first minute of stoppage time.

It wasn't the greatest of starts though for Bassett when a 40-yard ball from Mark Nash went over the head of John Haines and into the back of the net.

Bassett were playing hot potato with the ball, giving it away at what seemed like every opportunity and a long volley from Phil Serjeant on 19 minutes went just wide after Bassett let go of possession.

Midway through the first period Bassett began to settle, creating chances of their own with Marshall almost scoring with a header and a Steve Tucker lob going just wide of the mark.

Rich Gee injured a foot on the half hour mark and was replaced with Jon Davis and Dwayne Quinn was moved to the back. Quinn was beaten by Scott Cameron who squared to Liam Barratt but Barratt blazed over.

On the stroke of half time a Chris Mills throw was helped on to an unmarked Leigh Jones who rifled a 15-yard shot into the back of the net to open his account for the year.

The second half couldn't have started much worse for Bassett with two goals coming in quick succession – goals which should have been avoided.

Matt Bennett forced a comfortable save from Sheppard before Winterbourne broke, outnumbering Bassett's defence and Barratt fired past Haines although the Bassett 'keeper managed to get a hand to the ball.

On 53 minutes a poor header from Marshall, intended for Haines, was latched onto by Cameron, who coolly lobbed Haines.

Two bookings followed – both for late fouls and one for either side – for Nash of Winterbourne and Steve Yeardley for the home side.

Stu Hemsley clawed Bassett to within a goal on the hour mark, rising to a Mills throw and headed the ball with his back to goal into the far corner past the outstretched Sheppard.

Davis was booked for Bassett three minutes later before Mills played the ball to Bennett but the forward, making his first start of the year, fired into the side netting.

Jones and Bennett both failed to finish off good chances before Hemsley popped up once again to grab his second.

Again it was from a long throw from Mills, again Hemsley had his back to goal and again the ball looped into the far corner past Sheppard – now the game was well and truly on.

A minute later Mills threw another deep ball that came to substitute Moses Greene but his backheel wasn't powerful enough and Sheppard tipped the ball away acrobatically.

With seconds remaining though Quinn made a brilliant challenge and darted down the right where he swung in a low cross to Marshall who turned his marker and clinically put the ball away sparking euphoric celebrations from the Bassett dugout.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Stu Hemsley – two brilliant goals and a solid display in the middle of the park; kept Bassett in the game with his goals

Scoop Rating: 7/10 – A brilliant comeback after an average first half and a poor start to the second period. Three poor goals conceded although the first was a slice of luck.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Thursday 17th September 2020 at 09:49