Lydney Recreation Ground, 16th February 2012

By declaring that Wootton Bassett Town's final ten games of the season were all ‘cup finals', Dave Turner ratcheted up the pressure on his troops to deliver promotion. Given their performance in the first of those vitally important matches against Lydney Town, it seems the manager's message has been taken on board.

On a ground where it is notoriously difficult to get a result, Bassett impressively succeeded 3-0. With those three points in the bag, eight points is now the gap to third place Fairford Town, who leapfrogged the idle Tytherington Rocks; the Bristol side are now ten points adrift though they do hold a game in hand.

New signing Taylor Gill got the ball rolling early for the visitors on an extremely heavy pitch, grabbing a debut goal.

Bassett, however, failed to stretch their advantage. Tom Dingle's clever movement in particular caused problems. But despite creating opportunities to grab another goal it was not to be, Mark Barnes twice being denied when through one-on-one.

But the ultra-prolific marksman made no mistake when presented with a simple tap in after the home ‘keeper failed to hold onto a free kick midway through the second period.

By this point, Lydney had been reduced to ten men, a high, late challenge on Liam Edmondson being punished with the severest sanction by the referee.

And it would be Edmondson who completed the scoring late on. Matt Bown floated a free kick to the far post, which Steve Yeardley headed across goal, and the defender found himself in the right position to nod in his third of the season.

The goal completed a more than satisfactory afternoon's work.

Still, it's just the one cup final down. Nine more to go.

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