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Throwaway Bassett Spared Embarrassment

Stones Lane, 13th September 2008

Dave Turner was once again seething with his Bassett side for failing to play a full 90 minutes, despite them putting five past Cricklade Town, securing a much needed league victory.

And the Bassett boss was certainly in the right to do so as he saw his side throwaway a four goal lead in the final twenty five minutes, allowing Cricklade to come within a goal of tying the game before a Steve Yeardley penalty put the game to bed with four minutes to go.

However, the game should have been dead after Ryan Banks added the fourth just before the hour mark. Even before that point the score should have reached cricket-like proportions were it not for some poor finishing coupled with a fine display in between the sticks by Elliott Jackson.

Sean Terry got the ball rolling with under three minutes gone as he narrowly beat the offside trap before firing in at the second attempt after initially being denied by Jackson.

Buoyed with the confidence produced by the early goal, Bassett proceeded to batter their opposition, but failed to find the net again until half an hour was on the clock.

During that fruitless spell, Yeardley and Craig Shand both produced the best of Jackson; Liam Edmundson – impressive in his first start at right back – provided sumptuous crosses that travelled across the face of goal without being turned in; and Terry twice failed to hit the target despite being in a favourable position.

It was left to Richie Carter to double the advantage as he gambled first to the ball after Jackson falied to hang onto a Lee Moulton corner, prodding home from close range.

The 'keeper made up twice for his gaffe though before the break, denying both Terry and Shand with composed saves despite having the odds stacked against him after the two forwards continued to frequently get past the last man with ease.

A minute before half time though Terry was able to grab his second thanks to man of the match Lee Moulton. The youngster had a fine game, providing numerous testing crosses from his left wing position as well as deft through balls that cut open the defence.

It was the latter which afforded Terry another one-on-one opportunity and this time he made no mistake with a true striker's finish.

Just before the hour, Banks put away his first of the season, slotting home with a first time shot after Terry unselfishly cut the ball back from the byline. At first the ball evaded its intended target – substitute Harry Hambridge – but Banks cleverly continued his run to ensure the ball was put away.

Things quickly turned ugly though, partly thanks to an enforced change following an injury to Shaun Carter, which prompted Turner to shuffle things about and go with a back three.

Almost immediately Bassett were caught short at the back and forced into conceding a free kick, which found its way onto the bar and off the back of an unfortunate Stewart Thompson. In a mad scramble for the ball Richard Blankley was able to get there first to poke the ball just over the line.

Then with ten minutes to go the ball was carelessly given away in midfield and, after a surging run, Sam Reason was brought down in the box by Richie Carter. The midfielder stepped up to the spot and emphatically fired home against his former club.

Two minutes later, Moulton was caught out by a cross-field ball allowing Paul O'Connell the time to apply a superb finish from 15 yards, much to the anger of the Bassett bench.

But Terry was felled in the box shortly after and Yeardley made no mistake from 12 yards, ending his recent drought from that distance.

Man of the Match: Lee Moulton – extremely impressive out on the left wing as he linked up well with the front two, supplying them with countless quality balls.

Scoop Rating: 6/10 – Bassett were dominant but should never have let a four goal lead be reduced to just a single one. A performance like that next week would no doubt result in elimination from the FA Vase, which is something nobody at the club wants.

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