Wootton Bassett TownWBTFC
Hamble ASSC
Wootton Bassett Town Logo
2 ‒ 3
Hamble ASSC Logo

WBTFC Scorers:
Adam Field, Frankie Hunt

Hamble Deliver Late Hammer Blow

Rylands Way, 5th September 2009

After going further than ever before in last year's FA Vase Wootton Bassett Town reverted to type, crashing out at the first attempt, as they lost 3-2 at home against Wessex League outfit Hamble ASSC.

Three defensive errors proved costly for Dave Turner's side, with the game being decided in the dying stages.

Jamie Musslewhite seized upon a mishit 87th minute Liam Edmundson clearance, playing a through ball to the dangerous Richard Gregory, who rounded Stewart Thompson before slotting the ball home despite Steve Groom's valiant attempt to clear the ball away.

Bassett had earlier taken the lead, albeit arguably against the run of play when Adam Field lobbed the onrushing John Webb with a controlled finish following an Alex Green flick on. The goal seemed unlikely moments earlier as Luke Sharps scuffed his free kick. But with the ball being helped on by a fortuitously positioned Marcus Hall, the ball eventually ended up in the top right corner of the net.

Before that, Hamble had twice come close from dangerous Gregory deliveries. Firstly, his right wing free kick was met with a powerful header by Ricky Rawlings, but the ball sailed agonizingly wide. Then on the quarter hour mark his testing cross was headed back across goal by Jimmy Bull, but timely intervention from Chris Oram allowed the defender to head wide.

Eventually, the visitors found the back of the net. After Bassett failed to clear their lines twice, the ball eventually popped up to an unmarked Musslewhite and he headed the ball into an unguarded net on 24 minutes.

Then, just after the half hour mark, Oram got the wrong side of his man, and in a desperate attempt to prevent Musslewhite adding a second he handled inside the area, with the nearside linesmen alerting the referee to his transgression. The penalty was comfortably dispatched by James Roden, who sent Thompson the wrong way.

Just before the break, Gregory once again delivered an inch perfect cross – this time from by-line – and once again Musselwhite was there on the end of it, but his glancing header lacked the power and direction to put it out of reach of Thompson.

Following the break, an acrobatic save from Thompson brilliantly denied Gregory after he had again got in behind the defence courtesy of a lofted pass from left back Rawlings.

Taking advantage of this let off, a moment of inspiration from James Turner set up Frankie Hunt's coolly taken equaliser. The central midfielder gained possession just inside the visitor's half before muscling his way past three men. A deft reverse pass then set Hunt free, and the substitute coolly slid the ball past Webb.

Bassett struggled to gather any momentum after the goal though, with Thompson's goal coming under increased pressure. The hosts were not helped by both Hunt and Jon Holloway hobbling off, leaving them with just nine men, having used their allotted substitutes.

Musselwhite curled an 18-yard effort just wide of the left post before Ashley Wilson should have done better when he volleyed Gregory's right wing cross over from all of ten yards.

The visitors eventually ensured extra time was not to be required though, and it was fitting that Gregory was rewarded for his outstanding contribution.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Steve Groom – another mature display at right back from the youngster.

Scoop Rating: 6/10 – after bowing down to their Wessex League opponents last week, Bassett took the fight to them this time around, but again defensive frailties proved their undoing.

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

Wootton Bassett TownWBTFC
Hamble ASSC
Wootton Bassett Town Logo
2 ‒ 3
Hamble ASSC Logo

WBTFC Scorers:
Adam Field, Frankie Hunt