Royal Wootton Bassett Town recorded their first win of the season, defeating eight man Henley Town 3-1 in a scrappy contest.
It wasn't so much superior quality that helped Royal Wootton Bassett Town open their league account for the 2016-17 campaign. Rather their ability to keep their heads, while opponents Henley Town self-destructed, having three men sent off, was vital to securing three points that will hopefully kick-start a season that had got off to a stuttering start.
At half time the scores were deadlocked, there being little to separate the teams.
Bassett came close twice in the early exchanges, TJ Bohane missing a header from an Alioune Diouf cross and Sam Packer hitting over from a Bohane cut back. Henley had a pair of decent opportunities too, but Ben Blackwell struck over from close range and Grant Kemp saw a firm effort palmed away by emergency 'keeper Steve Yeardley.
On balance though it had been an extremely scrappy opening stanza, made the more frustrating for the spectator by the number of fouls and whistle happy nature of the man in the middle.
Soon after the restart though, the hosts - promoted as the third place side in Division One East - gifted their visitors a numerical advantage that quickly spiralled.
Jordan Goddard was first dismissed for raising his arms before Blackwell received his marching orders , earning a second yellow for a rash challenge on Packer.
Only when two men better off did Bassett break the deadlock, Steve Robertson delivering the opener as he converted a Bohane cross.
Brsd Hoy then got a straight red for handling on the line, and Bohane, who has created a handful of goals this season, bagged his first of the season from the spot.
Henley were now rowing against a swelling tide with just eight men on board. Despite having a trio of players sent for early showers though, the hosts managed to get on the scoresheet when Jack Thomson took advantage of some slack defending and halved the deficit.
But Packer made certain of the points for Paul Braithwaite's team, following up on great work from Bohane to add Bassett's third, the move having been initiated by Jonny Aitkenhead's fine interception and pass.
Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Monday 15th August 2016 at 08:50
