Oliver Crosby-Clarke's first half hat-trick helped fire Royal Wootton Bassett Town Under 18s to a 4-2 Wiltshire League Floodlit Division victory away at Melksham Town.
Playing down the slight slope and with the wind behind them, Bassett took an early lead in the first five minutes when Crosby-Clarke fired in a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner of the net past 'keeper Josh Taylor.
Jed Phillips went close to extending the lead after he fired just over on 15 minutes. Melksham's keeper Taylor then kept his side in the game with a trio of superb saves, the best of the three being a stunning dive to his left that palmed away a powerful Phillips shot.
It looked like Bassett would rue those missed opportunities. Against the run of play, Callum Howard got on the end of a misplaced back pass and outpaced the visitors defence, only to see Jake Pearce come out and dive at his feet and appear to make the save. But the ball fell kindly to Howard who bundled it over the line for the equaliser.
Parity was not to last long though as the visitors were awarded a corner and Taida Tendayi got on the end of it.
Unfortunately for Melksham, 'keeper Taylor's heroics in keeping out the opponents had resulted in a shoulder injury and he was forced to leave the field of play with Olly Clarke taking over in goal.
The visitors hit the bar on 35 minutes but were to go further in front moments later when, following a great drag back, Crosby-Clarke fired in a shot over the stand-in keeper to make it 3-1.
The same player then completed his first half hat-trick with a neat chip over the keeper to make it 4-1 at the break.
Bassett started the second half with the same urgency they had finished the first and went close on two occasions only to be denied by two great saves, Clarke saving with his feet to prevent the visitors from extending their lead.
However, after that the visitors took their foot off the gas and Melksham, with the conditions now in their favour, began to have more of the play and create more of the chances.
They were rewarded on the hour mark when Pearce failed to hold on to a powerful shot from the edge of the box and Aron Byfield was on hand to slot in the rebound.
Melksham continued to push for more goals but without really creating any clear-cut chances.
In the closing stages Crosby-Clarke went close to adding to his tally for the visitors, firstly firing powerfully against the crossbar and then being denied by another good save from Clarke as it finished 4-2 to Bassett.
The victory makes it three wins from four for Shane Saunders' side, who remain in touching distance of early pacesetters FC Chippenham Youth and level on points with Chippenham Town.
Credit: Mark Smedley
Last modified on Friday 4th October 2019 at 16:38
