Rylands Way, 20th April 2006

Three goals in the final twenty minutes were enough for Wootton Bassett Town to see off local rivals Purton.

Matty Bennett, Steve Bunting and Nathan Hall all struck when it seemed as though the game was headed for a dull goalless draw. However, Bennett's powerful drive in the 76th lit a spark beneath Bassett before two somewhat controversial goals sealed the deal.

The final minutes starkly contrasted from the opening stages of the game. Paul Burke's side made numerous inroads into the Purton defence but their desire to go alone rather than use teammates in good positions ensured the deadlock wasn't broken during the first 45 minutes.

With seven minutes gone a surging run from Ben Gascoyne opened up a sight on goal for him but Aaron Dickinson was able to save Gascoyne's 20-yard effort on the dive.

Five minutes later a looping volley from Jon Davis caused trouble for the mistake-prone Purton 'keeper but Dickinson managed to tip over.

John Magani squandered another decent opportunity eighteen minutes in, shooting wide after Bennett had laid off to him.

Stu Hemsley should have gave the home side the lead midway through the opening period but his effort from six yards was blocked after a Hall shot from a tight angle had run across the face of goal and into the path of Hemsley. With Dickinson out Hemsley should have turned the ball in or set Paul Crabtree, who was unmarked, for an easy finish.

Steve Yeardley did well to head just over from the resulting Davis corner before Purton defender Mark Ager came close to grabbing a goal against the run of play but his headed went just over after connecting with Darren Brown's set piece.

Gascoyne found the post a minute before the break as he struck from the edge of the area after Magani had set him by evading tackles from the Purton defence and squaring to Gascoyne.

Bassett's misfortune in front of goal continued as soon as the second half had gotten underway as Magani headed inches wide after a deep cross from Bennett.

Magani came close with another header six minutes later as Dickinson comfortably saved.

Burke shook the midfield up with two changes as Chris Mills and Bunting were introduced and Hemsley and Davis given a rest.

Oliver Thompson's foul produced the first yellow of the night just before the hour before Magani shot on the turn from eighteen-yards but Dickinson was able to turn the ball wide.

Both sides made advances deep into each other's territory but neither looked like scoring before Bennett arrived on key, drilling a ball flicked on by Mills into the roof of the net.

Bunting repeated Bennett's act six minutes later, volleying home a well placed Gascoyne cross from ten yards before Anthony McCusker replaced the provider of the second.

Purton defender Jason Edwards was booked for tripping before a mistake from Dickinson nearly gifted Magani a goal. However the Purton 'keeper was able to smother the ball before it crossed the line after it had nearly gone through his legs.

Rich Gee's surging run with three minutes to go was the key to the third as he played in Hall, who rounded Dickinson and tapped into an empty net. Purton's calls for offside were received on deaf ears as both manager Chris Pethick and assistant Sean Clark were sent to the stands for their protests.

Dickinson did well to deny Mills a fourth in injury time as Bassett walked away with a convincing victory following an awesome 20 minute spell.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Matty Bennett – his well struck goal sparked life into the Bassett team and Bennett looked threatening all night, creating a number of opportunities from the position where he is best suited – right midfield.

Scoop Rating: 7/10 – Paul Burke admitted his side never looked like scoring in the opening 75 minutes but his side dominated the closing stages with a flurry of well taken goals.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Friday 18th September 2020 at 11:12