Sustain Stadium, Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 28th January 2023

Bad days at the office have, thankfully, been few and far between for Royal Wootton Bassett Town this season – but this was perhaps the worst yet.

A miserable first half in which visitors Brimscombe and Thrupp scored three times and Bassett were reduced to ten men, as well as a generally disjointed performance, condemned Sam Collier's side to their heaviest league loss of the current campaign.

The 3-0 defeat doesn't do Bassett any favours as they fight for their highest ever finish while in the Hellenic League Premier Division. With their victory, Brimscombe – although three places below in eleventh – were able to close the gap between the teams to five points, with the Gloucestershire side still with a game in hand to play.

However, after the impressive – but perhaps unexpected – home draw with leaders Malvern Town and win away at Westfields earlier in the month, finishing January with four points is probably in line with expectations. It's just it would have been preferable to have increased that haul by taking something from a game that, on paper, was certainly winnable.

Brimscombe have been Bassett's bogey side of late though. Heading into the match, Bassett had won just two of their most recent twelve league meetings. And that dismal run continued with this disappointing loss.

The decisive moment of the match came half an hour in when Jon Beeden was dismissed for an off the ball incident with Adam Price in the penalty area.

By this point, Brimscombe already led 1-0 courtesy of a fierce 25-yard strike from Oliver Barnes' that the forward conjured out of nothing just twelve minutes in.

The last thing Bassett therefore needed was to gift their visitors a chance to double their lead while at the same time putting themselves at a numerical disadvantage. But that's what the experienced Beeden's rash, needless outburst achieved, with Barnes coolly sending Matt Crowther the wrong way from the spot after the dust had settled.

The incident sucked the life out of Bassett too. Although they had trailed, Bassett were well in a game that produced chances at both ends. It was a contest that lacked proper quality, but had nonetheless been relatively entertaining as neither midfield took a firm grip on the game.

Bassett had been fortunate not to have trailed after just eight minutes when Price somehow skewed wide with an open goal at his mercy after Crowther spilled a Barnes shot. Moments before Brimscombe's opener, the visitors were fortunate that Bailey Gallagher's shot from a dangerous area was deflected.

Then between Brimscombe's first and second goals, there was a flurry of openings. A last-ditch block from Adam Corcoran foiled Barnes after he had blocked Beeden's attempted clearance and charged towards goal. At the other end, a firm Matt Bennett drive was batted away by Dan Brabham. Brimscombe were next to go close with Jonty Welch forcing Crowther to save on the dive. The visitors soon survived a let off when an incisive move involving Louis Spalding and Bennett created space for Alfie Presley to shoot, but he could only drag wide.

But the sending off and penalty abruptly changed things. Although Bassett felt they had a good shout for a penalty of their own shortly after when Scott Chilcott was bundled over by Price, Brimscombe soon took advantage of their extra man. And their third goal came in some style with Price feeding Tom Black, whose fine turn on the edge of the box fooled his marker, allowing the gangly forward a one-on-one with Crowther from which he made no mistake.

Holding such a commanding lead gave Brimscombe margin for some error after the restart. But they still sought to turn the screw on Bassett even further, passing up four good chances before the hour mark.

First, an unmarked Barnes hurried a shot that Crowther was able to hold on the dive. Welch narrowly missed the target with a thirty-yard drive before Dean Turner skewed wide of an open goal after a twisting run from Barnes. Black then stabbed wide at the left post from a Sam Folkes cross.

Bassett did step up a gear in the final half hour. And during that time it certainly wasn't obvious that one team was playing a man short.

Bassett's best chance came when Gio Wrona's precise pass in between three defenders picked out Bennett at the far post, but his first-time effort from close range rattled the bar.

Later on, Matt Jones forced an awkward save from Brabham with a 25-yard free kick, while Kai Robinson headed narrowly over from a Jones corner.

Ultimately though, a consolation was not forthcoming, a disappointing, forgettable afternoon finishing with Bassett pointless and goalless.

Man of the match: Matt Jones - the midfield playmaker was the source of most Bassett attacks and refused to wave the white flag as he drove his side on in the second half.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Saturday 28th January 2023 at 21:35