Royal Wootton Bassett Town Veterans' second string started their charity Super Sunday off with a bang, racing to a quick lead and producing some scintillating football over fellow Bassett 4G occupants, Bays Wednesday night Vets.

A 10.30am start in the cold was not enough to slow Bassett down as they stormed to a 4-0 lead within 25 minutes. Sean Boyle had saved their blushes with a one-on-one save in the first couple of minutes, when Martin Cooper played a slide rule pass through for fellow forward Tim Lewis's perfectly timed run and he finished clinically across the keeper from ten yards. Watson, Victor and the elder Cooper, Chris, were all over Bays' midfield, exerting control and probing forward. On ten minutes one such move broke down but the ball fell to Cooper Senior, and from a full 20 yards left of centre, he rifled a fine left shot over the keeper and into the far corner - exquisite!

Bays Vets were rocked, and Lewis and Cooper Junior's movement and running was causing havoc and Bassett's wide men, Dave Knapp and Lee Parker, were joining in with some testing runs, crosses, and challenges. Cooper the (much) younger came to the party next, taking over the decks, mixing his own drinks and busting out the moves! Space was created by Watson down the right, giving Knapp a sight of goal from a wide angle. His shot was deflected but Cooper was lurking in space at the back post to apply a sharp finish.

Confidence was high and a magnificent ball out from the back by Kev Pocock found Junior Cooper running free down the left channel. Noticing the Vets' keeper Ben out of place, he let fly early and his left strike arrowed across to nestle in the far corner. 4-0, and entertainingly so, the Vets were unlucky to not go further ahead. Junior Cooper again was quick to read a back pass and round the keeper but, with Jason Parr rushing back to the line and from an acute angle, an almost heaven-sent bobble sabotaged an open goal! With Jeremy Smith and Budgie Robbins struggling to contain him, it was left to his own team mate, Rob Mitchell, to bring Cooper down to earth, upending him in mid-flow, comically timed!

Although Gav Waldron, Bay and Phil Llewellyn established more of a midfield foothold for Bays, Dean Ramshaw, Hoang Van Trang, Kev Pocock and Carl Johnson proved an organised backline, protecting Boyle in goal. Half-time came and an overjoyed boss PD waxed lyrical.

The second half started at a much more sedate pace and with Watson, Victor and Cooper the Elder rested, Bays Vets had a lot more of the ball. As soon as they were reintroduced though on 60 minutes, midfield superiority was wrestled back and normal service was resumed. Knapp surged down the left into the area and was cynically brought down by Smith(!). The baby-faced assassin Cooper, calmly dispatched the resulting penalty with the keeper going the wrong way.

Watson was next to register a deserved goal, breaking though after linking up with Lewis and staying cool after his effort was blocked and serenely tucking a six yarder away under the keeper.

The only blemish on Bassett's record was to come after a good break by Bays Vets finished with a somewhat innocuous shot. Unfortunately, the relatively inconspicuous Boyle in goal got his long barrier all wrong and fumbled the ball through his legs, as if playing pattercake, pattercake Baker's man. Maybe he was thinking of a pie as fast as he can!

There was time for Knapp to again race through and this time apply the finish, and for Victor to perform his customary nutmegs, to round off a 7-1 win. With a few of the Vets transplanting in to Bays squad this was a fine performance and gave the impetus to the Vets first team to follow.

Man of the match could have been given to many, but Bays officially voted for Martin Cooper (honest!) with honourable mentions to Bryan Watson and Chris Cooper. The Pink Pony also went to Junior Cooper for that unfathomable miss…Boyle, you were lucky!

Credit: Junior Striker
Last modified on Tuesday 1st May 2018 at 21:01