Never looking in trouble, Royal Wootton Bassett Town Vets produced a calm and confident performance to continue their fine Monday night form, winning 3-0 against Calne Vets on a chilly Monday 5th February on the 4G at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground.

From the off, Bassett controlled much of the possession without threatening too often, until the tenth minute when they took the lead. A deflected shot had led to a corner on the right. Steve Shaw's delivery picked out Paul Jack whose header was cleared off the line but fell to Martin Ohrland lurking on the edge of the area. His dinked left foot effort bamboozled the keeper, who watched it drift past him easily, half expecting a cross.

The first half continued to yield plenty of Vets possession but a calmness settled with no pace or urgency to the passing. Calne offered little threat and sat back and this seemed to lull Bassett into taking things easy-just like a Sunday morning.

Some hard-talking and group therapy at half time led to a swift upturn at the start of the second half, as within minutes Bassett took a 2-0 lead. Hesitant defending allowed Steve Howse to steal the ball on the edge of the area and, after side-stepping one challenge, he crashed a shot against the bar. The rebound fell kindly to Dave Parker who placed a side-foot soothingly past the keeper.

The upturn in urgency continued and Bassett grabbed a second in four minutes and their third of the night. Calne's number six trapped a cross in his own box but in trying to run out from defence, pushed the ball too far in front of him and in trying to undo his mistake, upended Bryan Watson to concede a penalty. Howse stepped up, ignored the barracking from his own side, and despatched right footed into the keeper's left corner.

Bassett could now relax with a clear cushion and cantered to an easy, if not scintillating win. Further chances fell to Shaw, one from a great Ohrland cross that was missed in a Sterling-esque way. Another unluckily flicked onto the post after a near post dart to a superb Steve Lynch delivery. Other amusement came from Woody on the sideline remarking how Jason Parr, "Suits that yellow shirt", a Brazil kit that the Vets are starting to match in performances!

Man of the match went to Paul Jack - calmness personified.

Credit: "Junior Striker"
Last modified on Thursday 8th February 2018 at 20:21