Rylands Way, 26th February 2008

After three consecutive games in which a total of 9 goals were conceded to the tune of only 3 in reply, it appeared that victory over Easington Sports was a mere aberration. Wootton Bassett Town replied perfectly though, blanking mid-table Oxford City Nomads and eking out a victory by the smallest of margins.

And they won it with the first chance of the match six minutes in. Terry Moore gave a preview of what he'd be doing all night by firstly hustling to steal possession from Lance Shaw and turning the pressure into a corner.

Paul Patel swung what Moore had won into the box and Richie Saunders guided the ball towards goal at the far post. The ball edged just inches over the line and, despite futile attempts to clear it away, a waved flag from the near touchline meant Bassett were ahead.

Another corner almost produced a second six minutes later. Lee Morse's set piece wasn't cleared and the ball fell to John Magani, who took two swipes at the ball from five yards out but a goalmouth scramble was eventually averted.

A quick break then occurred as the Nomads raced down the other end. Jussi Nurminen slipped through Shaw, who guided the ball over Sean Purcell only for the post to intervene and the Bassett 'keeper duly fell onto the ball.

Phil Tearle fired just wide from distance midway through the half after a failed clearance from 'keeper Gareth Tucker before Bassett had Danny Heath to thank for not conceding the equaliser.

Eleven minutes prior to half time, the threatening Nurminen supplied a cross, which Ben Moses rose to meet with a powerful header from 10 yards. Purcell was beat. But Heath was there on the line to provide the clearance.

The bar was the next object to come to Bassett's aid eight minutes after the restart. After the hosts failed to clear, Mark James was gifted possession and sent a looping effort over Purcell that caromed back off the horizontal part of the woodwork.

The midsection of the second period featured a furious flurry of chances as both sides chased each other from end to end.

With 65 minutes on the clock James delivered a free kick that picked out Shaw, who was waiting six yards from goal. Despite this he could only head well wide.

Two minutes later Purcell parried away a one-on-one effort before Jonny Aitkenhead was forced to clear off the line after Ben Moses found himself on the receiving end of the cross that followed as a result of the ball not being cleared.

The action then swapped ends. Firstly Morse fired just wide with a free kick from the edge of the area following a foul on Tearle.

The youngster was then presented with a chance himself, racing on to a Purcell kick that had been helped on by a visiting defender. Despite being through on goal, he failed to finish though, firing straight at Tucker.

The final opening of the game fell to Moses on 73 minutes. He struck a powerful drive from 20 yards that swerved during flight, but Purcell was able to get his body behind the ball to preserve a much needed three points.

Crazy's Man of the Match: Terry Moore

Last modified on Monday 22nd June 2015 at 23:38