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A week after being held at home by Easington Sports, a game which made manager Paul Burke second guess his position at the club, it was all smiles in the Bassett camp as Chris Mills' headed winner early in the second half secured a 1-0 victory over Letcombe.
When the ball found the back of the net the Bassett side showed their appreciation for Burke by racing over to the touchline and bundling their boss, who had his frown turned upside down.
From the off Bassett put Letcombe under an intense amount of pressure – this nearly culminated in a Mark King in the 14th minute but he fired just over after Nathan Hall had cut the ball across the box after a Steve Yeardley ball into the channel.
Six minutes later the visitors had their first scoring opportunity but Adam Miller produced a fine block to deny Richard Claydon after a cross fell at Claydon's feet.
Five minutes before half time Hall whipped in a good cross which found the head of Dwayne Quinn six yards out but he was denied by Tom Patten who did well to get down to the ball and scoop it into his hands.
Letcombe immediately countered and came close through Iain Whatley. Adam Pendell played a ball over the top which Whatley ran onto but an onrushing Miller did enough to close down the angle and the chipped shot went wide.
Five minutes after the restart a high ball over the top created a chance for Pendell but he was beat to the ball in the air by Miller who bravely snared the ball away from the midfielder.
A minute later Mills netted the winner. Paul Crabtree delivered a great cross from the left which Mills connected five yards from goal and the outstretched Patten was well beaten.
On 56 minutes Lee Beavis played a free kick into the feet of Hall, who – in typical fashion – rolled his man on the edge of the box before unleashing an effort which sailed just wide.
Six minutes later Quinn sent a ball across the box which Scott Large connected with from 10 yards, forcing a save from Pendell who parried wide.
With twenty minutes left Beavis picked out Large out on the flank. The youngster then put the ball into the danger zone, nearly creating a goal as a Letcombe defender put the ball just over his own bar.
Andy White was given his long awaited debut with fifteen minutes to go as he replaced King before Jon Davis came on in relief of Mills to add a pair of fresh legs to the midfield engine room.
Steve Yeardley almost doubled the lead with three minutes left of normal time as he headed a Beavis free kick just wide but his missed opportunity made no difference as Bassett held on for three well earned points, keeping them within reaching distance of the current pacesetters at the top.
Manager's Man of the Match: Paul Crabtree
Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 20th September 2020 at 14:52