Rylands Way, 16th December 2006

It's been one of those seasons so far for Paul Burke's side: in seven league losses so far this year they have only really been truly outclassed twice. Against second placed Lydney Town – in the first ever meeting of the two sides – missed opportunities cost the home side yet again as the visitors scraped out a 2-1 victory in an open game.

In the first ten minutes Bassett could have taken a 3-0 lead but only one chance was converted and that was the first in the 3rd minute – Marcus Neale's effort from the edge of the area was headed out only as far as Nathan Hall and the forward got a foot to the ball to direct it in off the near post.

Two minutes later a powerful Andy White volley whistled past the wrong side of the post from 20-yards after good work down the right flank from Hall and Matty Bennett.

Bassett breached the league's second best defence yet again on 8 minutes when White set Hall through on goal to beat the offside trap. Despite having room in front of him to run into, Hall struck an effort from 25-yards that nearly doubled the lead but instead went just wide.

A soft goal brought the visitors' level in the 9th minute with their first shot on goal all game. A cross from the left wasn't headed away by Lee Beavis and Daniel Clarke made him pay by firing into the bottom left corner from 18-yards.

After a dominating spell in the opening ten minutes, Bassett were then pegged back by their opponents for the rest of the half. The defence were able to cope well though, combining a high line and trigger happy linesman to good effect as Lydney were caught the wrong side of the last but one defender numerous times.

Midway through the half Jon Davis was booked for a foul and he was lucky to last the opening 45 minutes let alone most of the game when a late lunge by the touchline went unpunished.

A minute before half time Mark Saunders whipped in a free kick from the right which Mark Crabbe got a head to ten yards but he could only direct the ball a couple inches over the bar. Hall then shot wide after a crossfield ball from Beavis after a quick goal kick.

Four minutes into the second half the ball fell kindly for an unmarked Bennett on the edge of the box. The usually clinical finisher scuffed his effort though and Richard Thomas was able to easily scoop up the ball.

Neale was then replaced by Steve Shaw before Thomas was forced into a great save to deny White. The ball bounced around the danger area before Bennett was able to play a pass into the path of White and the in form striker shot on the slide, forcing the outstretched Lydney 'keeper to parry the ball wide.

Bassett shot themselves in the foot just before the hour when Chris Mills was caught in possession allowing the visitors to break, outnumbering their hosts and a low, long range drive from Crabbe beat a diving James Domm.

Two more changed followed as Andy Hallett replaced Beavis and Mark King was put on for Jon Davis as Burke went with three up front for the final quarter of an hour.

This move allowed Lydney to apply more pressure on the Bassett defence and a quick counter attack opened up a shot for Clarke and his long range shot beat Domm but struck the left upright.

With three minutes left Steve Yeardley squared to White on the edge but the forward didn't connect probably, sending the ball well wide when he should have done better.

Lydney found the post once again inside the final two minutes as Domm gave the ball away and Adrian Neale found the post with an open goal.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Rich Gee – comfortable at the back and linked up well with the midfield. Never lost sight of his man and won a number of headers to break up attacks.

Scoop Rating: 6/10 – Two errors allowed Lydney to net two decisive goals. Bassett played some good football but the final pass was often missing and the finishing wasn't up to scratch as Lydney's defence didn't look like the one that had conceded just 14 goals prior to the game.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 20th September 2020 at 18:37