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Bassett Lose Out at Lydney

Lydney Recreation Ground, 25th April 2009

Despite losing a dour game at mid-table Lydney Town by a single goal, Wootton Bassett Town ended their fourth season in Hellenic League Division One West in fourth position following Letcombe's loss at Purton.

The only goal of the game came courtesy of the head of Matt Timmins after he was picked out by a perfectly placed and weighted cross-field ball from Aaron Jones, which ensured all the forward had to do was guide the ball on target to ensure it would go in.

Bassett were then left with a massively upfield battle, as they were going up against an extremely strong wind on top of having to put up with a rather ropey pitch. It was therefore no surprise that the scoreline did not change.

Instead, Lydney somehow failed to extend their lead on a day when Bassett's performance was poor.

With a minute to go, the hosts broke from a corner, and Timmins was left with just Stewart Thompson to beat.

He tried rounding the 'keeper but Thompson was able to ferry the ball away to safety with his feet when it looked easier to score.

Dave Turner's side's downfall was their inability to make use of the bellowing wind during the opening 45 minutes. Their only real chance of the half fell to James Turner, but he could only muster a weak effort from the edge of the area that was blocked after fine work in the right corner from Ryan Banks to win the ball and cut it back.

The hosts could have been on top prior to that but Thompson fisted Jon Kear's header over the bar following a Ricky Elliott corner.

Prior to the deciding goal both sides had chances fall just off target.

Two minutes after the restart Glen Stallard curled a 25-yard effort across goal but the wrong side of the post before a Banks header after the midfield jumped off his back foot drifted agonizingly wide following a James Guthrie cross.

It was sad to see such a successful season – one in which the team ventured further than ever in the FA Vase and produced their highest league finish since relegation from the Hellenic Premier – end on a low note, and Bassett's misery on the day was compounded further when Dave Turner was ordered from the dugout.

The Bassett boss was rightly incensed after a studs up tackle on James Turner failed to even produce a free kick, but the way in which he communicated his frustrations was not to the referee's liking

Scoop's Man of the Match: James Guthrie – the youngster, who has recently been on trial with Peterborough United, was lively on the left-wing, supplying a number of teasing crosses.

Scoop Rating: 5/10 – the final game of the season did not produce a performance truly reflective of this campaign. However, thanks to local rivals Purton it mattered little and ensured a fourth place finish.

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