Rylands Way, 28th October 2006

Wootton Bassett Town responded to their 4-2 defeat at the hands of Easington Sports with a dogged performance against fourth placed Winterbourne United, leading to a 4-2 victory.

Last year's champions were quickly behind when Andy White stole the ball as the visitors kicked off and threaded through Nathan Hall who coolly slotted home ten seconds in.

Steve Yeardley could, and perhaps should, have doubled the advantage in the fourth minute when he headed wide despite being unmarked from a Jon Davis cross.

Midway through the first period, White crossed in from the right and Matty Bennett connected with it on the edge of the area but Tom Sheppard was equal to the effort.

On the half hour mark Ben Rhodes hooked the ball just over despite having his back to goal following a long Simon Curtis throw.

A minute later Scott Cameron hit the bar from a yard out after Bassett failed to clear an Andy Proctor set piece.

Bennett had another chance twelve minutes from half time but he shot wide after Grant Gordan forced him out wide.

The visitors were then gifted a goal when Cameron caught Yeardley in possession and slotted home as Adam Miller could do little about the situation.

Miller then pulled off a fabulous save in first half stoppage time as James Mainstone ran onto a ball into the right corner but the young 'keeper bravely smothered at his feet.

Bassett added another goal early on in the second half as Hall was tripped by Curtis just inside the box and Steve Yeardley put the penalty away although Sheppard was nearly able to keep it out.

The visitors were then reduced, somewhat harshly, to ten men in the 53rd minute when a hard challenge on Paul Crabtree earned Steve Baker a straight red card.

The game was at its' liveliest in the final quarter of the match.

In the 67th minute Mainstone should have headed home from six yards but failed to connect properly with a Cameron cross before Bennett shot just over at the other end with a first time strike.

Craig MacLaren replaced an injured Steve Yeardley in the 72nd minute before Cameron found the crossbar for the second time a minute later, brilliantly rolling Andy Hallett before firing at the woodwork from eight yards.

Moments later a low Proctor free kick fell to an unmarked Danny Cook at the far post but he somehow hit over from six yards.

Mark King replaced White for the last fifteen minutes to add a set of fresh legs up front in the hope of killing off the game.

A minute after King's arrival, Bennett made it 3-1 with a superb volley from 20-yards after an equally good through ball from Hall.

That wasn't end of the action though as MacLaren obstructed Cook in the box with nine minutes left to give Winterbourne a penalty. However Cameron put his effort wide right.

Curtis made up for his trip off Hall in the box as he headed home from another brilliantly placed Proctor free kick, reducing Bassett's lead to just one.

Proctor was booked in the final minute before stoppage time for pulling down Bennett's shorts as the tricky midfielder had got away from him.

Crabtree then sealed victory in the 90th minute with a blinding 30-yard volley that looked like a desperation shot, but the midfielder struck the ball sweetly and left Sheppard with no chance.

It could have been 4-3 but for another fine Miller save. Neil Stovold split the defence with a through ball and Cameron added a deft touch to try and dink the ball over the oncoming 'keeper but the youngster wasn't going to be beaten.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Rich Gee – solid at the back and put in by far his best performance of the year showing why he deserves his starting place.

Scoop Rating: 8/10 – should really have conceded more than two but the first of Winterbourne's two was a gift. Bassett defended well against the league's second highest scorers and played some neat football which led to three well deserved points. Top marks for the visitors too for putting on an entertaining show.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 20th September 2020 at 15:04