Wootton Bassett TownWBTFC
Malmesbury Victoria
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WBTFC Scorers:
Tom Messenger

Messenger’s Delivery Not Enough for Bassett

Rylands Way, 24th September 2005

Tom Messenger's first half goal wasn't enough for Bassett as a second half free kick from Lee Beavis earned Malmesbury a point in a local derby that offered little in front of goal.

Bassett started hesitantly and were nearly caught on the break on 13 minutes after Messenger lost possession near midfield allowing Ed Wilkins to get a shot in on goal but his effort was wide of the mark.

Seven minutes later Andrew Waller shot wide from the edge of the area after Steve Yeardley failed to clear from a long throw.

Messenger found the back of the net in the 26th minute. Matty Bennett won the ball at the halfway line after a good tackle and played a crossfield ball towards Steve Bunting. However, Malmesbury defender Jake Fisher was there to cut the ball out but he didn't control the ball allowing Bunting to square the ball into the box and Messenger tapped in from six yards.

Neither side managed to produce much more before the break with both sets of frontmen not getting any good balls to run onto. Bennett did have a half chance two minutes before the break but his shot from a tight angle went wide.

Malmesbury got out off the blocks quickest in the second half and pressurised the Bassett back three.

Andrew Mitchell should have done better from just inside the box after Bassett were caught outnumbered at the back but Mitchell shot wide.

Chris Mills replaced Craig Maclaren in the 50th minute before Beavis equalised for the visitors.

A stupid foul 25 yards out put Malmesbury in good position and as Bassett prepared for the free kick Beavis stepped up with a quick free kick which was helped on into the back of the net by the head of Dwayne Quinn leaving John Haines with no chance.

New signing Mark Edmonds replaced Ben Gascoyne on 66 minutes as Gascoyne, who had a good first half taking on the Malmesbury defence, didn't get into the second half.

Wilkins shot over from 20 yards midway through the second half after once again Bassett failed to clear properly from a corner.

At the other end, Bennett should have done better after a through ball from Bunting set Bennett in behind the Malmesbury defence. Bennett's off balance shot rolled just wide of the mark though.

Ben Fitch struck just wide for Malmesbury with quarter of an hour left before Jack Dodd replaced Bunting.

With six minutes to go Beavis nearly was the hero for Malmesbury as he put a glancing header on an Alan Webb cross, luckily for Bassett though the ball shaved the post and went wide with Haines beaten.

Another silly foul on the edge of the box two minutes into injury time gave Malmesbury another opportunity to find a winner but Waller's free kick and follow up were both blocked by the Bassett wall before a cross from the left was met by Fitch whose header looped goalwards only for Haines to pull off a fine save on the back-pedal to save Bassett's blushes.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Tom Messenger – scored a good goal and also solid in the tackle winning the majority of balls he went for.

Scoop Rating: 6/10 – Lacked a killer touch and never troubled Malmesbury's goal, looking panicky at times. Midfield didn't provide enough for Bennett and Moses Greene upfront as most of the balls forward were high ones taking away both striker's main weapon – their ability to take players on.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Thursday 17th September 2020 at 09:58

Wootton Bassett TownWBTFC
Malmesbury Victoria
Wootton Bassett Town Logo
1 ‒ 1
Malmesbury Victoria Logo

WBTFC Scorers:
Tom Messenger