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Bassett Road, 6th February 2010
A powerful header from Fraser Joyce in the dying minutes gave Wootton Bassett Town a vitally important 2-1 victory at Letcombe.
The win leaves Bassett just three points off the summit of Hellenic League Division One West and come the season end these three points could mean the difference between promotion and another season in Division One West.
A goalless first half was uninspiring as the two teams looked like they were playing a pre-season friendly and manager Dave Turner described it as one of the worst performances he had seen from his team during his half time team talk. Indeed a few expletives were to be overheard as he gave the team an Alex Ferguson "hair dryer "style talking to at the break. The game had not been helped by some erratic officiating, with both sides being on the wrong end of some strange decisions, and this was to also continue in the second half.
The half time talk seemed to do the trick in terms of instilling some fighting spirit in the side as Wootton Bassett came out looking like a side who wanted the points. After some sustained pressure defender Chris Oram gave the visitors the lead on 51 minutes, firing in from a corner which had only been partially cleared. From then on it was all one way traffic but unfortunately Wootton Bassett were made to pay for a series of missed chances. There appeared no danger when Luke Sharps, with the ball at his feet, had the chance to clear but instead looked to play the ball inside but it went straight to a Letcombe player who fed an excellent ball in to Pete Horswell who fired in to equalise. Totally against the run of play but the goal inspired the young Letcombe side who then began to create a series of chances and keeper Stewart Thompson had to be alert to prevent Letcombe going ahead.
However, Joyce – in only his second appearance for the club since signing from Shrivenham – powerfully met a near post corner in the final minute to emphatically deliver what could prove to be a goal of huge significance as the final stretch begins in earnest.
In fairness, it was harsh on Letcombe, who as ever put up a spirited performance. But defeat for them meant their home hoodoo against Rylands Way's finest continued – since their relegation to Division One West, Bassett have won five of six encounters when visiting Letcombe.
Last modified on Monday 22nd June 2015 at 23:38