Rylands Way, 12th September 2006
For the fifth consecutive season, Wootton Bassett Town failed to progress in the FA Vase thanks to Jesse Walters' 109th minute strike after another riveting tie against Shrewton United.
Saturday's initial tie produced numerous chances but only two goals. The replay was the same concerning the number of chances both sides had but there were goals aplenty as Shrewton took the game by the odd goal in five.
The first three chances of the game all added names to the scoresheet. Two minutes in a low Ben Halski free kick from just outside the box found the bottom left corner after referee Ian Trueman awarded the visitors a dubious free kick.
Gavin Cooley doubled the lead on nine minutes when his troublesome cross from the right looped into the top corner after Bassett 'keeper John Haines lost the ball in the lights after Walters' through ball split the Bassett defence.
In the 18th minute Shrewton failed to clear Nathan Hall's corner and Matty Bennett redirected the ball into the box where Chris Mills provided a neat backheel and flicked the ball into the backed of the net from 10 yards.
Mills had the chance to add a second in the 25th minute but he headed a Dwayne Quinn cross straight at Adam Burwell.
The backend of the first half produced a flurry of yellow cards. On the half hour mark Cooley's foul on Andy Hallett produced the first caution before Quinn was booked eight minutes later for persistent fouling.
Six minutes before the break great work down the flank from Walters allowed Martin Gowing a shot on goal but he fired wide from just outside the box.
On the stroke of half time Anton Brownless received a caution for clattering Quinn.
Walters continued causing all kinds of trouble in the second period – on 53 minutes Haines did well to parry away his shot from a tight angle.
From Cooley's corner Haines fumbled and was thankful Robin Gorham's shot was cleared off the line.
Scott Large replaced Quinn in the 55th minute before a low Mills corner was connected with by Rich Gee's diving header but this was cleared off the line.
Steve Yeardley got the equaliser in the 59th minute, firmly heading home from Nathan Hall's cross from ten yards.
An injury to Bennett forced his substitution four minutes later as Steve Bunting replaced him.
Tempers continued to flare as Andy Hallett was booked on 73 minutes for a late challenge. Then with three minutes to go a bad foul on Paul Crabtree incited a mini melee in which Yeardley was booked for trying to break it up.
Walters almost won the visitors the game in injury time when he caught Haines off his line but his shot from a tight angle found the side netting after he was put under immediate pressure.
The first period of extra time saw only one clear cut chance, which fell to the home side in the 100th minute. Bunting's long throw was flicked on by Tom Messenger at the front post and Mills was able to get a foot to the ball but his effort looped just over.
Mark King replaced John Magani a minute into the second extra period before Brownless was denied by Haines whilst through one-on-one after he had slipped through the home defence.
Walters 109th minute strike proved to be the winner as his 20-yard first time effort went in under Haines after Bassett had been caught on the break.
With two minutes remaining and Bassett frantically searching for an equaliser, a long Gee ball over the top fell to Bunting but his long range effort was saved well.
Halski almost made added a fourth after taking on Gee but Haines managed to tip wide the low shot.
Scoop's Man of the Match: Chris Mills – scored an instinctive goal and did brilliantly both in defence and attack as he made his presence felt all night.
Scoop Rating: 7/10 – Let down once again by a slow start and had chances to win the game but couldn't convert. Jesse Walters proved the difference between the two sides as he put in a blinder for the visitors. Shrewton were held to fewer chances than on Saturday but had the most luck on the night.
Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Wednesday 17th November 2021 at 15:29
