A depleted twelve carrying a number of injuries were still able to put in a strong performance against fellow 'Big 3' KMLC in a shortened game due to a phantom kit going missing for Royal Wootton Bassett Town Veterans Blue.
With fifteen minutes until kick off Bassett were sat in the changing rooms when a voice asked where the kit was: to silence. With no one admitting guilt and culprits offering alibis, 'Shirtgate' was only avoided by a last-minute dash from Speedster Sash to the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground and then down the M4 to negate the need for an old school 'skins' turnout.
A delayed start of 10 minutes shortened the game to twenty minutes each way, and this rattled along as two well-matched sides played out a 'brief' encounter. Play was condensed in the middle third of the park, with neither team really able to penetrate the backlines. Wood and Davis looked composed at centre-back. The game was further held up by the referee needing a change of outfit so as not to clash with the opposition, returning in a nice little green number!
Basset looked to use the triumvirate of Howse, Shaw and Cooper to set them free but too often the final ball was short, and Lynch skirted with the ball down the left. Parker had the odd dash down the right, but a tight opening was nearly broken when a curling KMLC effort was magnificently clawed away by Boys-Stones from the top right corner. Another cross found a head six yards out but of corset was the Bassett's stopper in the right place again to hold on.
Cinquegrani had Bassett's best chance of the half, intercepting on the half-way before exchanging passes to advance and rasp a right-footer from outside the area that took a coat of paint off the woodwork as it rebounded out. Bassett looked to a-dress things by swapping on Howse for Cooper, as the contest remained tight.
Coach Cook roused the tired limbs at half-time, stocking up on some well-worn catchphrases! But key was to re-boot and take advantage of lots of good interplay and create more. He looked to his Y-fronts to provide the spark.
Bassett were looking to knicker goal; one second half joust from Shaw looked to provide him with a free run at goal but a crude body check brought that to an end. KMLC also looked to throw the ball forward but Davis was imperious at the back, first to everything and one slide and scoop away was reminiscent of Des Walker in his pomp.
It looked for all the world that the hard graft was to be undone by one moment of KMLC magic as great interplay left a marauding red shirt clean through- his finish was true but Boys-Stones was just able to get a glove on it low to his right. As KMLC turned to celebrate, the rotations slowed and the ball died enough for Jefferies to hoof it off the line - a magnificent save!
Wilson and Ohrland in the middle had worked their socks off to gain parity with KMLC's midfield three and towards the end Ohrland still had the legs to surge through and ride a challenge on the edge of the area. He then beat the keeper to the ball but the toe-end forced him wide and the chance petered out. Soon after, Parker made a great run down the right in space but, although his shot narrowly flashed wide, the square ball to his waiting forwards may have been the safer option.
The opposition got shirty with a few challenges as the abridged game abruptly came to an end and the match finished in a tie, or drawers if that's your preference!
No one could basque in glory anyway. The Blues now har-bra designs on the league title but require Marlborough to drop points in their remaining five fixtures.
Man of the Match: Paul Davis - gave a towering performance at the back, marshalling the defence and unbeatable in the challenge.
Pink Pony: Paul 'No' Kitson - the mystery culprit remains at large!
Credit: Junior Striker
Last modified on Wednesday 15th May 2019 at 10:01
