Royal Wootton Bassett TownRWBTFC
Burnham
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Logo
5 ‒ 1
Burnham Logo

RWBTFC Scorers:
Steve Olphert, Dale Richards , Steve Robertson , Henry Spalding, Lewis Thompson

Spalding stars in Burnham rout

Five different scorers were on target for Royal Wootton Bassett Town as they secured a convincing 5-1 win against basement side Burnham.

For the second week in a row Royal Wootton Bassett Town's attack shone brightly as they tore basement dwellers Burnham apart in a 5-1 victory.

As against Oxford City Nomads, Steve Robertson, Lewis Thompson and Dale Richards were again all prominent, with each player finding the net and making important contributions to the other goals that made up the team's handful, it was the returning Henry Spalding who was the star of the show.

A niggling injury kept him out of last week's thumping triumph. But he returned with a vengeance, scoring one goal and featuring in the build for the other four that Rich Hunter's team scored against the Buckinghamshire outfit, who despite being committed to getting the ball down and playing were a class below their hosts.

Switching between the left and right wings throughout the game, he ran rings around Burnham, taking the mickey at times - as was the case when he nutmegged a defender in the right corner before providing a teasing cross for Robertson to add Bassett's fourth.

Although the opposition was not the strongest, he provided a sublime demonstration of his abilities.

It was his cross from deep on the left, which resulted in Bassett's first in the game's 27th minute. That delivery was cleared only as far as Robertson, who smashed a strike against the bar. Danger had not been averted as the rebound fell to Thompson, and he set the ball to Richards who lashed a rising strike beyond the reach of Burnham stopper Samuel Szymczyk.

Prior to that, Bassett had largely been in control, but the end product had been missing. Thompson had gone close after five minutes, seeing a curling effort deflected over, before Richards drew a parry from Szymczyk, the rebound falling to Robertson square in front of goal, but his scuffed effort was blocked.

However, Richards' opener dented any confidence the visitors had and further goals were always on the cards.

And Steve Olphert ensured Bassett went into the break a comfortable two to the good. The midfielder took his goal in some style – at full stretch on the edge of the area, he redirected another Spalding delivery from deep on the left into the top left corner with a fine half volley.

Bassett had a brief scare early after the restart when the ball broke for Oscar Dubrowski to run free on goal, but Curtis Meare was quick to shut the angle and saved at the speedy forward's feet.

They then quickly established a three goal advantage. Thompson went on a surging run down the right wing and played a cut back from the byline, which Spalding composedly guided into the left corner.

Three minutes later came Bassett's supremely well worked fourth. A flowing move set Spadling free in the right corner, and his audacious nutmeg and perfectly weighted cross set up Robertson to join the party, as the team's leading scorer beat Szymczyk to the ball and prodded in from close range for his twelfth of the campaign.

With the points sewn up, the home side eased off to an extent, and that allowed Burnham to reduce arrears, Cheyenne Cripps rounding off a successful counter attack with a confident finish.

While that defensive lapse was frustrating, the quality of Bassett's forward play remained high.

After Sam Packer came close, Thompson made it five, completing a move that he had started. Spalding was again set free down the right by Thompson and picked out Robertson at the far post. Unselfishly passing up the option to shoot from an extremely tight angle, the forward instead teed up Thompson for a close range finish.

Opportunities continued to be created.

Steve Yeardley should have done better with a header from a Packer corner as he failed to find the target from ten yards out.

Alioune Diouf then saw a powerful effort from the edge of the area deflected over as he released Spalding and darted into the area to connect with the return pass.

With five minutes to go, Robertson appeared as though he would grab his second when he flicked Packer's corner towards goal at the near post, however Szymczyk did well to glove the ball behind.

It had already been an outstanding five star attacking display though, and with a tough County Cup test and a pair of league games against two of the division's best attacking sides to come, keeping some goals in reserve will hopefully prove a wise move.

Man of the Match: Henry Spalding – justified the decision of manager Rich Hunter to bring him straight back into the starting eleven with a high quality display that saw him play a role in all five of Bassett's goals.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 8th October 2016 at 20:14

Royal Wootton Bassett TownRWBTFC
Burnham
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Logo
5 ‒ 1
Burnham Logo

RWBTFC Scorers:
Steve Olphert, Dale Richards , Steve Robertson , Henry Spalding, Lewis Thompson