Royal Wootton Bassett Town Over 50s produced a stunning victory over second place Marlow Dukes at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground. A two goal salvo from fox in the box Roger Webb was enough to see Bassett triumph 2-1 in a game played in testing wet and windy conditions.

The home side used the strong wind advantage to good effect to take an early lead. Paul Gardner's long ball into the Marlow area caused confusion as the goalkeeper and defender got in a tangle to blast the ball against Webb, who had closed them down brilliantly to profit from the ricochet and net calmly into the open goal.

The home side continued to compete well all over the pitch with strong running and tackling a feature of the opening exchanges. This approach unsettled the visitors at times who had to work hard to create chances against a determined Bassett team. Marlow did threaten on around 20 minutes when a decent long range effort was well gathered low by Stephens in the home goal. Andy Huggins in particular was carrying the fight up front for Bassett and the Marlow back line had to be on their mettle to stop him adding to the score line.

He was ably backed up by the hard working Webb and well supplied from the flanks by Martyn Purcell and Rob Mitchell. Steve Fisher and Chris Cooper in central midfield competed fiercely until Cooper was forced off with a hamstring injury. New boy Gary Donnelly slotted in well in his place and kept Bassett strong in this vital area.

Marlow were largely restricted to long range efforts which Stephens managed to parry away from danger on the skiddy surface. The visitors eventually got behind the Bassett backline though and a good cross by the number nine from their left to the back post was superbly defended by Donnelly who headed clear under pressure from a Marlow forward who could have scored but for the big man's intervention.

The home side continued to hold their own in the contest and cause Marlow problems. Before half time Bassett duly doubled their advantage. Right back Gardner once more got the move going with a ball played long into the right hand channel. Huggins chased it down valiantly before going past a defender, looking up and picking out Webb who took a touch with his right foot before finishing with his left under the on-rushing goalkeeper.

It was 2-0 but the game was far from over. Bassett survived a few more hairy moments at the back to go in with their two goal lead intact but everyone in blue knew it was only a job half done.

Marlow set a strong pace early in the second half aided by the strong wind now at their backs they pressed hard to strike back straight away and wrestle control of the game away from their hosts. Bassett found it more difficult to contain them and began to concede territory and some free kicks in dangerous areas. From one of these the Marlow number nine curled a 20 yard shot that was heading for the top corner until Stephens got across miraculously to palm it away at full stretch.

Marlow kept coming and the corner count started to mount as Bassett clung on with dogged defending from the back four and the rest of the team who refused to buckle. Marlow so nearly pulled a goal back when their number ten broke through on goal but fired against the bar. Bassett were able to get out at times and Huggins had at least two well struck efforts thwarted by the Marlow stopper. Ian Penfold came even closer when he connected with a ball in from only a few yards out but his shot was bravely denied by the 'keeper's chest and the ball rebounded to safety.

For their part Marlow continued to knock on the door and following a goalmouth scramble they hit the post. It seemed as ii would not be their day in front of goal when a Marlow man hammered a shot towards the right hand corner that Stephens acrobatically turned aside with both fists to keep his goal intact. The visitors also put a free header over the bar late on as Bassett rode their luck. Inside the last minute, Bassett finally conceded. A through ball evaded the valiant Bassett back line for once and the Marlow substitute, number 15 drew the 'keeper and slotted calmly past him to give Bassett the last minute jitters.

Thankfully for the home side, soon after the restart the final whistle blew and Bassett could celebrate only their second and certainly their best win of the season. It was an immense team effort that enabled the boys in blue to beat a side who only a week earlier had won 10-2 in the cup. This Bassett team is really starting to belong at this level and now feel they can gave anyone a game and beat them.

Man of the Match: Ceri Stephens - Two vital second half saves in particular preserved the Bassett lead, and ultimately meant the Marlow late strike was only a consolation.

Credit: Ceri Stephens
Last modified on Monday 14th February 2022 at 21:38