Rylands Way, 2nd December 2006

An Andy White brace wasn't enough for Bassett as Old Woodstock Town claimed three vital points, winning by the odd goal in five to leapfrog their opponents, who now have only four wins at home this year.

Two Gerard Kelly goals – one on the stroke of half time, which was a suckerpunch for Bassett after a solid defensive display in the first period – and a third from Nick Thorne was enough for the visitors.

Thorne nearly staked Old Woodstock to an early, 10th minute lead but his 30-yard free kick bounced over off the bar well out of the reach of Adam Miller.

Three minutes later a glancing Nathan Hall header at the front post sailed just wide with the help of a deflection from Jon Davis' corner.

Chances came thick and fast in an open first period and with quarter of an hour gone Nick Neal latched onto a through ball down the left before firing from a tight angle but the ball flashed across the face of goal.

Paul Davis almost gave the home side the lead ten minutes before the break with a low drive from the edge of the box but he was denied by a diving Darren Mole.

Five minutes before half time Bassett thought they had taken the lead after Mole juggled a hanging Chris Mills cross from the left. Paul Crabtree pounced on the loose ball before tapping into an open net but the goal was disallowed as the officials believed Mole had control of the ball.

To confound things, Kelly gave the visitors the lead dead on 45 minutes. Neal was put through down the right and was ruled onside despite the Bassett defence's protests. The forward cut the ball back across the box and Kelly was there to fire in from 12 yards despite Andy Hallett's best efforts to clear it off the line.

Davis came close to equalising ten minutes after the restart when his powerful header from a Jon Davis corner was headed off the line.

Three minutes later both Davis' played a part in helping set up White's first of the day. Jon Davis' corner from the right was flicked on by Paul Davis and White shot in on the turn from 8 yards.

Steve Bunting made his first appearance since suffering a broken rib when he replaced Scott Large in the 65th minute before a nasty challenge on Hall brought the first yellow card of the day for Old Woodstock defender Ben Thomas.

A Mills mistake allowed Thorne to put his side back ahead with 71 minutes gone. Mills was dispossessed in the left corner and, after taking one touch, Thorne blasted the ball into the roof of the net from 10 yards.

Two quick bookings followed for Bassett as their frustrations showed – Jon Davis was firstly booked for dissent before Dwayne Quinn found himself in the book for a mistimed challenge.

Kelly almost set up a wonder goal for Ed Gilkes in the 75th minute. After dinking the ball over Miller, Kelly flicked the ball back for Gilkes on the edge of the area who connected with a bicycle kick but, luckily for Bassett, Bunting managed to shepherd the ball off the line.

Marcus Neale replaced Paul Crabtree to add an extra attacking option in the final minutes before a foul by Hallett on Nick Neal gave Old Woodstock a penalty despite the fact there appeared to be no contact between defender and attacker; Kelly coolly found the bottom left corner after sending Miller the wrong way.

The game wasn't over though as White immediately got one back in the 83rd minute, tapping in at the far post after Bunting's long throw in from the right wasn't cleared.

Miller made a great save six minutes later to keep Bassett's faint hopes alive as he parried at Nick Forrester's feet after great work from Kelly.

A minute later White almost bagged a third but after Hall had squared him the ball, his left-footed strike from the edge of the box was tipped wide by Mole.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Andy White – kept Bassett in the game with his two vital goals and held the ball well up, linking up effectively with Nathan Hall.

Scoop Rating: 6/10 – Crucial mistakes cost Bassett the game, as did some dubious officiating for the first and third goals. Going forward, Bassett did well, creating a number of good chances but again shot themselves in the foot on three vital occasions.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 20th September 2020 at 18:34