Highworth Town under 18s completed a hat trick of victories over Wootton Bassett Town, as a dismal performance from the home side made it easy for their bogey side.

The 4-1 scoreline suggests a large gap in talent between the two sides, but that was far from the case, and evident in the first half.

Both sides came close in the opening 45 minutes, but a goal against the run of play gave Highworth a half time lead.

Early on Dean Wason found the bar with the goal at his mercy following a thunderous strike from Callum Dunn that the Highworth 'keeper could only parry.

Dunn and Tom Marchment were combining well up front and forced two more impressive parries with low shots across goal.

At the other end Highworth appeared equally as dangerous, with the added help of a strong wind behind them.

Their best chance before their opening goal came when Rich Hanley was forced to acrobatically tip over the bar after a close range shot that should the Bassett defence should never have allowed.

When the goal did come, it came as a gift from the hosts. A throw in was given away high up the pitch, and a quick break down the left allowed Richie Crocker to cut in and fire home from 18 yards.

The second followed shortly after the restart as Bassett failed to clear before Chris Avery drilled the ball home first time from a square pass.

Phil Tearle halved the visitor's lead with a looping volley into the top left corner but Crocker grabbed a second when he beat 'keeper Hanley to the ball and found the bottom corner from a through pass.

Aaron Hall then sealed the game with a 20-yard strike following a poor Bassett clearance.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Wednesday 30th December 2020 at 22:05