ASM Stadium, 22nd February 2011

Drawing games has been Wootton Bassett Town's achilles heel throughout this season. Dave Turner's side had split the points just three times prior to their trip to Thame United, having failed to close out games more than enough times during this campaign. And when in a fight to stay out of trouble at the wrong end of the Hellenic Premier Division table every point available is valuable. Therefore Bassett's 2-2 draw with a side who had earned 16 of the last 21 points available to them was a welcome relief and a product of a performance that demonstrated much character.

Just a single goal seperated the two teams when they met earlier in the season at Rylands Way when the visitors triumphed 1-0 in a game where Bassett were victims of their own profligacy in front of goal.

They made amends this time though, matching the hosts all the way, twice coming from behind. Stuart Barr put the home side ahead on the stroke of half time, but Sam Collier struck for the first time in five games from the spot five minutes after the restart. The score did not remain level for long though as Thame's leading scorer Alex Stewart pounced on the hour mark. However, the visitors would have the last laugh. With just two minutes remaining, Alex Green - without a goal since January 3rd - fired home to seal a well earned point.

The result lifted Bassett above Reading Town into 15th by virtue of a better goal difference, and with three games in hand over that side - and plenty to spare over both Abingdon Town and Oxford City Nomads too - there is still potential for them to match their best ever finish of 13th place, which was achieved exactly ten years ago.

There is plenty of work yet to do. But if lessons from this game can be taken and similar results ground out (on top of a few more victories) that can be achieved.

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