The latest Veterans Super Sunday event saw Royal Wootton Bassett Town Blues take the honours in the annual fixture against the RAF FA Veterans team, triumphing 3-2. Bringing a strong, well-numbered squad, the RAF were looking to repeat their win at St. George's Park in February, but Bassett's game plan, conceived by the management team of Bryan Wood and Sam Collier (making the step up from first team duties), was a success in what was a full-throttle affair.

The RAF took off at a pace, moving the ball freely through defence and midfield. Bassett were happy to concede possession to maintain shape, having changed to a 4-4-2. The defence of Davis and Cook, with Warren and Cinquegrani at full-back were in for a busy time but stood up well to begin with. Challenges were uncompromising with the RAF bringing a physicality to their play, which Bassett had to match.

Bassett looked to the speed of Newton on the left and Shaw upfront to relieve the pressure and both looked dangerous when they found space. However, the RAF took the lead on fifteen minutes, a through ball to the right channel caught Bassett square and the number six was clear and able to roll a composed finish past Paul Boys-Stones' right side.

Soon after, a reshuffle was needed when Gav Cook suffered a hamstring tear, with Martin Jefferies coming on at right-back and Warren moving to the centre. And he soon started ruffling feathers, a contretemps with the opposing forward having to be sorted out by the referee. The RAF included the offender in their mass change as they used their combined forces to refresh legs.

Perversely, this allowed Bassett more into the game as they started to find room down the flanks. Martin Ohrland and Pete Wilson were getting through an immense workload as a duo in midfield, and Steve Lynch on the right and Martin Cooper as the front man showed some hard-running, combining to create space for others.

Shaw, dropping off the front started to threaten and his fine lofted ball from right to left found Newton outpacing his marker to then lift a deft finish over the onrushing 'keeper to bring the scores level.

As the first half played out, Blues were indebted to a couple of fine saves from Boys-Stones, one a superhero impression as he reached across in a goalmouth scramble.

Bassett were in the ascendency. Newton saw a volley fly just over, then broke free down the left only to toe-poke over when a square ball may have been better. Another Newton run through the heart of the RAF rearguard was crudely brought to an end- the ball running free to Cooper in on goal, but the whistle had gone early when advantage should have been applied.

Collier and Wood were calm at half-time, happy with the consistent threat on the break by the dangerous Shaw and Newton and the way the defence were soaking up the pressure. Howse came on up front for Cooper and Parker at right midfield for Lynch.

The second half started with a pre-arranged offering for the retiring head of RAF football, Sir Chris. A penalty was played out, and despite Boys-Stones inadvertently saving with a scorpion kick when trying to avoid the ball Sir Chris tucked home the rebound.

The goal was not to be added to the scoreline but certainly confused some of the well-attended crowd into thinking it was 2-1. The game started for real at 1—1 and Bassett were into their stride. Howse was holding the ball up well and Newton and Shaw continued to buzz around down the flanks. Newton has a great chance to put the Blues in front but after rounding the defender he got his finish all wrong.

The breakthrough came soon after. Howse held off the defenders when the ball was played up to him and laid it back to Ohrland. Bassett's own Hercules found himself in space and curled a superlative left-footer from 25 yards over the 'keeper but back down under the bar.

The RAF refreshed their ranks once more, and the Bassett defence were put under more strain by the fresh legs. One effort was blazed over as some of the antics got under the defender's skin, Warren again skirmishing with the number six.

PD and Cinq's were also up for the battle and behind them Boys-Stones was pulling out the stops when needed. Shaw had to succumb to a jarred knee, sending Cooper back on but Bassett's ten was soon needed again, as Parker over-reacted to a challenge, chasing and pushing over his opposite number (a la Benny Hill) and had to be taken off. Soon after Wilson took a dig to the ribs off the ball and Lynch was summoned from the bench.

Bassett were still looking sharp and a slack pass across the back game them their chance for take-off. Cooper intercepted and turned before taking advantage of the keeper off his line and lobbing over him from twenty yards.

The RAF turned up the ante, sending defenders forward, and Boystones main moment came: a ball to the back post was controlled and volleyed by one of the troops sent up, but Bassett's number one narrowed the angle and even managed to hold on to the strike.

There was time for an acrobatic left-foot volley from Howse that whistled narrowly wide from a Newton cross, before the RAF pulled one back moments before the final whistle in a goalmouth scramble.

Upon the restart the ref brought proceedings to an end and Bassett were able to enjoy a win in a high-octane, competitive match.

In the preceding game, Bassett's Yellow team were never quite able to get themselves going and fell to a 5-0 loss to Stratton Juniors. And after, the Over 50s faced a strong Welsh Veterans FA XI and suffered a 7-0 defeat.

Man of the Match went to Paul Boys-Stones - he was on fire, along with his back four, to keep the forces at bay.

The Pink Pony Award was won by…Dave Parker, to be accompanied by the Benny Hill theme tune! The Army-man needs to learn to stop picking fights!

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Thursday 9th May 2019 at 10:12