Rylands Way, 5th November 2005

James Townsend's second goal of the game deep into injury time earned Bassett a lucky victory over Ross Town after another sub-par performance. However the three points are all that matter as Bassett try to claw themselves back to the top of the table.

Bassett didn't get off to the best of starts as three minutes into the game Steve Bunting was booked for a high challenge.

Townsend nearly gave Bassett the lead on 7 minutes when he got a faint touch on the end of a Steve Yeardley free kick but Richard Newman tipped wide.

In a sloppy affair, neither team dug out any real chances with the home side having a host of half chances. Matty Bennett and Ben Gascoyne both failed to convert openings with Gascoyne striking just wide.

Ross then began to exploit Bassett's slack marking with Andy Sherlock and Dewi Stuart both wasting good opportunities after finding themselves in good positions.

Stuart was booked in the 33rd minute for delaying the restart of play before Bennett had another good chance after cutting inside his marker but his shot was comfortably held by Newman. Townsend forced a good save from Newman just before the break as the lanky Bassett forward tried from 20-yards out.

Five minutes into the second half Steve Tucker – in his first game back from a lengthy suspension – replaced Steve Bunting and provided an instant spark as he set up Townsend's first on 58 minutes. After receiving the ball near midfield, Tucker set off down the right before crossing the ball into the box and Townsend stuck a leg in the air, sending the ball into the back of the net.

Two minutes later Tucker tried to be clever after noticing Newman off his line but his lob from twenty yards was well off the mark. Sam Lawro then replaced Craig MacLaren giving the youngster his debut before Mark Edmonds replaced Stu Hemsley a couple minutes later.

On 68 minutes Newman was well placed to deny Tom Messenger before Ross broke and found an equaliser as the Bassett defence was once more caught asleep allowing Sherlock to run through unmarked and smash the ball past Paul Hawkins. Bassett's appeals for offside were waved away allowing Sherlock to sneak through and run unchallenged towards Hawkins.

A quick free kick from Lawro to Tucker in the 72nd minute opened up another chance for Townsend but his header from Tucker's cross went just over.

Bassett were let off the hook with eleven minutes to go after Rich Gee failed to control the ball but Hawkins managed to deny Stuart.

Messenger and Bennett were then denied by Newman in quick succession before Dwayne Quinn was booked for dissent.

Three minutes into injury time a foul on Quinn brought a booking for Matthew Hall. Townsend struck wide from the free kick, which should have been the last chance of the game.

A high ball into the box from Yeardley fell to Townsend, who turned the ball in from 10 yards out to give Bassett a much needed three points.

Scoop's Man of the Match: James Townsend – scored two vital goals and had plenty of other chances – only Bassett player who looked like scoring.

Scoop Rating: 6/10 – A sloppy performance in poor conditions and were lucky to gain all three points. However, the three points are all that matter as Bassett try to climb higher in the league.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Thursday 17th September 2020 at 18:53