Royal Wootton Bassett Town Veterans lost their last game of the Wiltshire Winter Flexi League, going down 4-1 against Kylie Minogue's Love Children, but managed to prevent them from winning the title by one goal.

Marlborough Town finished equal first with KMLC on points, goal difference and goals scored, with Bassett trailing in third.

Gaffer Wood took charge for this game and changed the system to a 4-5-1 to counter KMLC's forward three, looking to stifle their opponents. Ace marksman(!) Cooper was left on the bench. The tactics started off well, with the Vets seeming to happily contain their opponents in some tight opening exchanges, Boys-Stones clearing up one early through ball on the slide, but Bassett were starting to enjoy some space out wide, with Parker breaking dangerously on the right.

From one such attack a KMLC defender was lured into a rash challenge on the right of the area on the flying Wanderer and Parker himself swept in the free kick, causing pandemonium in the six yard box. The 'keeper saved from his own defender and Jack nearly pounced but his effort was blocked. The rebound then appeared to be bouncing away, but Ohrland crashed in a beauty from 18 yards with his weaker right-foot.

If Bassett could have held the lead then the game may have turned out differently but unfortunately KMLC were soon level. A long ball caught Bassett's new system flat and Neil Matthews was in the clear and able to nip in before Boys-Stones and lift a deft finish over him. Calamity ensued when a second soon followed, this time Cinquegrani with a rash challenge on the left of his own box leading to a free-kick, which KMLC curled in past the wall from an acute angle to leave Bassett 2-1 behind. Wood brought on his 'Pogba' for Parker but KMLC held strong up until the break.

Bassett had definitely held their own and the second half followed the same pattern, with Cook and Warren firing up the midfield. However they just seemed unable to release their attacking players, Howse, Shaw et al, in dangerous positions and no clear cut chances came their way. Jack made one outstanding misplaced pass out wide to Warren, not realising that he had been substituted!

Midway through the second period KMLC delivered the killer blow… or more to the point, Bassett delivered it to themselves! A through-ball was covered comfortably by PD (who had been keen to get on the scoresheet!) and he rolled the ball back to Boys-Stones. Agonisingly, the 'keeper moved to the left and stuck like a thief caught in the spotlight, with the ball serenely carrying on its journey to the back of the net. As Mourinho would say, "We were 3-1 down and we scored all four goals."

Bassett's heads could have dropped but they battled on and came close to pulling one back, Cook's delightful pass found Warren surging through but his chip past the keeper bobbed tantalisingly wide of the right-hand post.

KMLC put the gloss on their victory with a well-worked move that led to a crisp finish from the edge of the area.

A harsh scoreline on the Vets, and a third place finish, although a new season starts up in January with hopefully two Vets teams.

Will a poor reporter get double pay for these?

Man of the Match goes to Gav Cook for a whole-hearted performance in midfield, driving his team on.

The Pink Pony award goes to Paul Boys-Stones for that Rocky Horror jump to the left!

Credit: Junior Striker
Last modified on Wednesday 19th December 2018 at 08:50