Rylands Way, 25th February 2006

Lee Marshall's header seven minutes from time earned Wootton Bassett Town a point against Hook Norton, but it wasn't enough for manager Paul Burke who felt his side more than deserved a win.

Bassett dominated for most of the game and should have been in the lead when Ben Spiero curled a free kick in for the visitors with thirteen minutes to go before Marshall popped up to secure a vital point.

Hook Norton came close twice early on but were enable to find the back of the net. On ten minutes a deep free kick from Mark Tyler was headed just wide by Shaun Lambourne. Six minutes later Ryan Breslin whipped a free kick into the box, and the ball bobbled about before falling to Spiero six yards out. Somehow he managed to blast over.

Bassett had their first chance on 22 minutes when Matty Bennett shot just wide from 20 yards after running unopposed from halfway.

Bennett had another chance a minute later but he was unable to get a shot off after a Sam Lawro cross fell invitingly for the Bassett forward.

Bassett maintained their pressure and in the 24th minute a poor Lawro corner fell to Nathan Hall on the edge of the box but the returning forward could only blast over.

In the 33rd minute Bassett did get the ball in the back of the net but it was ruled out for offside when Steve Bunting tapped in after a thunderous volley from Bennett had beat 'keeper Lee Farrow but struck the post.

Six minutes before the break Bassett were let off the hook when Richard Northover and Gavin Hansell had shots blocked following a poor clearance from Rich Gee. Breslin's corner was then headed just wide at the front post by Spiero.

Sam Lawro was booked ten minutes after the break for dissent following a foul before Steve O'Rourke had a header blocked after he connected with a Spiero free kick on the hour.

With 18 minutes left Ben Gascoyne set out on a promising run before cutting inside. However the ball evaded him and his effort was way off target.

Hook Norton countered and the ball fell to an unmarked Spiero on the edge of the box. The visitors' player/manager attempted to lob John Haines but the shot went over.

With fifteen minutes to go Bennett latched onto a Paul Crabtree through ball behind the Hook Norton defence. Farrow pulled off a great point blank save to deny Bennett and the rebound from Bennett was hit wide.

Two minutes later Bunting ran into the back off Spiero on the edge of the box giving the visitors a free kick. Spiero struck a low effort through the wall and although Haines got a hand to the shot the ball crossed the line.

Bunting redeemed himself in the 83rd minute when he whipped a dangerous corner across the box and Marshall emphatically headed in at the far post.

Two minutes after equalising, Bassett gave away another free kick on the edge of the box, with Marshall being booked for dissent. This gave Spiero another bite at the cherry and he struck another low free kick but this time Haines, diving to his left, saved well.

O'Rourke could have won the game for the visitors on 88 minutes but he hit over from twelve yards after Breslin pulled the ball back from the byline for him.

Despite both sides creating chances, Burke felt Bassett could have come away from the game with all three points – in all honesty they should have.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Andy Hallett – defended solidly all game, mopping up numerous Hook Norton attacks. Again the defence had a solid game, even without skipper Steve Yeardley.

Scoop Rating: 7/10 – Should have came away from the game with three points and were the better team throughout. An unnecessary foul gave away the goal but there were chances prior to Bunting's foul that should have put Bassett comfortably ahead.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Friday 18th September 2020 at 10:32