Rylands Way, 26th March 2013

It says a lot about how prolific Mark Barnes has been this season that he could go over a month without finding the back of the net and still remain top scorer in Hellenic League Division One West.

And after a two goal performance in a vital, entertaining 4-2 victory against New College he went some way towards making sure the golden boot belongs to him come the campaign's conclusion.

More importantly, from a team perspective he helped move Wootton Bassett Town within one win of guaranteeing a top two finish and a return to the Hellenic Premier Division.

Barnes put the hosts in front after just four minutes. Jacob Hayden burst down the left wing before delivering a delicious cross to Matt Bown, who teed up a relatively simple finish.

However, Bassett's lead did not last long, Lee Toomey equalising in the tenth minute with a fizzing effort that went in off the post shortly after the visitors had spurned an open goal opportunity.

Chances continued to come at both ends with Steve Robertson and Steve Yeardley both missing golden opportunities for Bassett.

While his teammates failed in front of goal, Barnes struck again with time winding down in the opening period as he sauntered through the New College defence before finishing coolly.

The advantage was doubled on the hour when Liam Edmondson stooped to head home a Bown cross.

Unusually for a defender, Edmondson has been enjoying a rich vein of form in front of goal and added his second of the match – and fourth in six games - with quarter of an hour to go to seemingly put the outcome beyond doubt.

New College ‘keeper Alex Swatridge had pulled off an outstanding save to divert a shot destined for the top corner over the bar. But he spilt the resulting corner, and Edmondson reacted quickest to poke home.

Nathan Blackford's late penalty made for a nervous final ten minutes, but there proved to be far too little time remaining for a New College comeback.

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