6 ‒ 2 |
Corinium Stadium, 28th December 2013
He may have missed out on a hat trick by scuffing a penalty straight at the Holyport ‘keeper, but by that point of the game Ryan Stanners had already inflicted enough damage. With two goals, an assist and a performance that left the visiting defence dizzy, the youngster inspired his Wootton Bassett Town team to an emphatic 6-2 win that lifted them to 13th in the Hellenic League Premier Division.
Really the margin of victory should have been greater, with Stanners' spot kick miss following Levi Cox's earlier failure to convert from twelve yards, while the two goals shipped should have been cut out.
But to focus too much on that would be to needlessly nitpick for this was Bassett's best offensive display all season.
Two early chances that went begging suggested the course the game would take. Two minutes in Cox cut back for Jordan Roberts who curled his left foot shot onto the bar. Jason Milhench then found himself in behind the Holyport defence, but rather than shoot he sought to square for Cox, who stretched for the ball yet was just unable to connect.
The inevitable opener eventually came on the quarter hour mark. From deep on the right wing, Roberts whipped a cross into what appeared to be an empty box. Milhench, charging forward from his position wide out left, was able to catch up with the flight of the ball and produced a composed first time finish from ten yards that beat George Legg.
It took time for Bassett to extend the lead. In the meantime Milhench struck inches over with a half volley, while a brief scare was survived when Ryan Tye's corner was headed onto the bar.
With seven minutes to go until half time though, a flowing move brought Stanners his first of the game and grabbed the first of three further goals before the break.
He helped initiate the attack, taking a pass from Milhench before feeding his teammate with a through ball into the left corner. That was then played into the box for Cox, who, with his back to goal, set back for Stanners to drive home from the edge of the box with a shot that left ‘keeper Legg rooted to the spot.
Stanners turned creator moments later as a finely worked free kick undid Holyport. Isolating himself with Tyler Sheppard on the right edge of the area, he took Sam Ockwell's pass into his feet before playing Sheppard in with an exquisite reverse pass. With just the ‘keeper to beat, Sheppard made no mistake as he picked out the bottom left corner.
Fooled once by a set piece move, Holyport fell for a similar routine on the stroke of half time to put the games result beyond doubt. This time Stanners stationed himself alone on the right side of the box and from Lee Stevens' pass he rolled his marker before curling low into the bottom left corner.
The onslaught continued following the restart. On 50 minutes Milhench blasted a ferocious 25 yard free kick into the top left corner to make it five.
It should have been six when a penalty was harshly awarded for handball but Cox, going for power, sent the ball careering over the bar and back towards Wiltshire.
Ockwell secured the half dozen on the hour mark. A short corner was played to Steve Yeardley who teased a cross to the far post where the unmarked midfielder headed easily past Legg from close range.
With their goal difference at this point out of negative figures, Bassett should have been finished the game with a plus sign in front of that figure. On 66 minutes Stanners was brought down in the box and, looking to complete his hat trick, came forward to take the penalty. But he rolled a weak effort that Legg comfortably held diving to his right.
An underhit Adam Corcoran back pass then allowed Holyport to grab a goal. Steve Deverall beat Steve Allison to the loose ball, rounded the ‘keeper and curled a shot from a tight angle around Stevens and Corcoran, who had both got back onto the line, into the opposite corner.
With a chance to re-establish a six goal advantage, Aaron Stevens found the woodwork when he found himself one-on-one with Legg.
At the other end, Holyport added another in the final minute. Henry Beckett was given too much room on the edge of the box and his deflected shot was snuck in by Tye.
That final quarter hour was something of a dampener on an otherwise flawless afternoon for Bassett. But this time, with a commanding lead in their second game in 48 hours, Jeff Roberts' side had a reasonable excuse for easing up slightly with the finishing post in sight.
Man of the Match: Ryan Stanners – ran the show and played a big part in Bassett racking up a half dozen goals with two for himself and an assist. Holyport just couldn't cope with his clever movement off the ball and decision making and passing when in possession.
Rating: 8/10 – the two goals conceded and two penalty misses were disappointing but Bassett were otherwise rampant and fully deserved to win by a significant margin.
Last modified on Monday 22nd June 2015 at 23:38