The Conigre, 13th January 2007

Adam Young's 62nd minute strike was enough for Melksham Town as they knocked 10-man Wootton Bassett Town, who played the whole second half a man down, out of the Wiltshire Senior Cup at the quarter final stage.

Bassett made a game out of it though against a side one level above them and were unfortunate to see Jon Davis given a second yellow for only his second foul of the game on the stroke of half time after a hard challenge.

Yellow cards were produced frequently in a game where there wasn't one real dangerous challenge made all game; the first came after only eight minutes and was given to Andy Hallett after he impeded Luke Ballinger after the forward had gotten by him.

On quarter of an hour Simon Price's effort was cleared off the line after patient build up by the Western League side.

Four minutes later Matty Bennett almost gave Bassett the lead with their first chance of the match as his 20-yard half volley sailed just wide following a Chris Mills crossfield ball.

Davis received his first caution in the 29th minute, somewhat harshly getting tangled up with an opponent.

Three minutes later Stu Hemsley connected with an Andy White cross but Steve Perrin did enough to save the header after Mark King had held the ball up well.

Tim Eatough then had a chance at the other end as he slid in for Mike Perrott's low cross but his shot at the front post went inches wide.

Melksham captain Leigh Burke was then booked for dissent. Steve Yeardley's quick free kick after the infringement created an opening but White headed wide from Hemsley's cross at the far post.

A quick Yeardley set piece then almost cost Bassett as Ballinger intercepted and raced towards goal. He squared for teammate Ashley Groves but James Domm denied him, brilliantly parrying away at the forwards' feet.

Two minutes before the break Ballinger beat Domm as his 25-yard free kick bounced back out off the woodwork, seconds before Davis received his second yellow.

Unsurprisingly the first action of the second half involved the referee as Price was booked for jumping in front of a Bassett free kick.

Domm was forced into action again just before the hour as Perrott rounded four Bassett defenders before finding himself one-on-one with the 'keeper. Domm averted the danger as he parried away at the tricky winger's feet.

Steve Shaw then replaced Marcus Neale before Scott Large found himself in the book for another innocuous foul.

Perrott was cautioned in the 66th minute as he played the ball whilst not on the field of play after having received treatment, much to the home side's disgust although the yellow was rightly given.

Miscommunication amongst the Bassett defence led to Young's winner in the 72nd minute as neither Domm, Yeardley nor Hallett dealt with Ballinger's cross. Domm was able to glove the ball away but only as far as Young who fired easily into the top corner from 12 yards.

Hemsley and King were then replaced by Paul Crabtree and Nathan Hall respectively as Bassett searched for an equaliser. However being a man down, Bassett were unable to keep hold of possession long enough in Melksham territory to allow any sort of attack to succeed allowing the hosts to deal with most of what was thrown at them.

Bassett did well to ensure the loss was only by a single goal as Large cleared a Josh Brigham header off the line before Eatough squandered a great chance – blazing over from 12 yards after substitute Steve Tweddle had cut the ball back to him.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Matty Bennett – caused problems on the right wing for a slow Melksham defence and was unlucky not to score. Most of the second half play went through Bennett and still he was able to beat men.

Scoop Rating: 7/10 – Bassett weren't helped by the red card but put in a solid performance against opposition from a higher level. If Davis hadn't received a red it would have been an entirely different game.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Monday 21st September 2020 at 09:11