Royal Wootton Bassett Town Over 50s got their season off to a great start with an emphatic 4-0 win away to Goring United in the Oxfordshire Over 50's League Division Two.

The victory was a real statement of intent that Bassett are targeting promotion and an immediate return to Division One.

A first half penalty by Bryan Cooper gave the visitors a deserved half time lead and second half goals by Andy Huggins, Steve Lynch and Rob Mitchell put the seal on a superb display.

Right from kick-off Bassett dominated possession. Midfield pairing Steve Fisher and Bryan Wood bossed play in the centre of the pitch and ensured the visitors played on the front foot with accurate passing and intelligent movement to give frequent support to attacks.

Eddie Stephenson, playing in the pocket just behind centre-forward Lynch, was prominent. He fed wide men Rouse and Mitchell on numerous occasions with accurate and progressive passes, as well as finding Lynch with balls in behind the hard pressed Goring rearguard.

Bassett threatened the home goal regularly in the opening half hour. Fisher was first up with a long- range effort that was easily gathered by the keeper. Lynch curled a free kick just too high during the early exchanges, before Stephenson burst through and rounded the keeper only to see the ball run out before he could get in a shot.

Bryan Wood then got into the action twice in quick succession. His dangerous cross just evaded the onrushing Mitchell who was so close to applying the decisive touch, before Wood galloped into space on the edge of the area and let fly with a powerful low drive that fizzed just wide of the left- hand post.

Bassett just could not seem to get the goal their play deserved any Lynch felt that frustration most on 25 minutes. He was put through on goal and left the goalkeeper helpless with his chipped effort only to see the ball crash against the crossbar rather than the back of the net.

Goring finally got going themselves and after a dangerous cross was well caught by Paul Boyes-Stones, the visiting 'keeper was soon called into action again when he was in the right place to clutch a free header from Goring's big number six who had come up for the corner.

Goring continued to probe and on the half hour their number eight hooked an effort just over the bar from long range as Bassett were forced to defend to avoid conceding against the run of play.

Bassett got back on the front foot and Fisher went close with a curling effort that was just too high, but with the half drawing to a close, three key moments had a major bearing on the final outcome.

On 44 minutes the Goring midfielder number 4 fired a skidding effort which Boys-Stones palmed wide at full stretch to foil. Shortly after the Goring man tried his luck again. This time his effort clipped the base of the post with Boys-Stones beaten.

Almost immediately Bassett went up the other end and Wood was crudely felled in the box for a penalty. Midfielder Cooper calmly dispatched the spot kick, sending the keeper the wrong way to find the bottom right- hand corner.

Bassett brought on Watson and Huggins for Stephenson and Webb to freshen things up for the second half.

Goring introduced their late arriving number 17 as they sought to get back into the contest.

He almost had an immediate impact but his first effort was blocked and another shot flew high and wide. At the other end Lynch showed great strength to create a half chance but his hurried snapshot was also well off- target. Minutes later the same player got in behind Goring but shot straight at the goalkeeper from close range when chipping him seemed the better option.

Their inability to stretch their lead left Bassett vulnerable to a sucker punch, and the Goring number 14 tried to deliver it with a long- range effort that Boys-Stones saved comfortably on the hour mark.

The visiting keeper distinguished himself minutes later when Goring's number five broke into the area only to see his powerful low shot held expertly by the diving keeper.

Another glorious chance for Bassett to go two up followed shortly after. A high ball in the box was headed towards goal by Lynch only for Mitchell to head over from a few yards out.

On 65 minutes Bassett finally calmed the nerves of the visiting supporters with the important second goal. The industrious Lynch caught a Goring defender trying to dribble out. Having robbed him out wide, Lynch quickly centered for Huggins to finish confidently from close range.

The two sides continued to trade goal attempts for the remainder of the contest but it was Bassett who added to their tally twice more.

On 75 minutes Stephenson, back on in place of Rouse, sent in a beautifully flighted corner finished emphatically by Lynch's bullet header.

Bassett made it four-nil minutes later when goal getter Lynch turned provider once more. His delicious curling cross was stabbed home by Mitchell inside the six- yard box to complete the scoring.

It now only remained for Bassett to manage the final minutes of the game and make sure they kept a confidence boosting clean sheet. In pursuit of this they kept the ball well and defended with composure.

They also had to rely on the impressive Boys-Stones to preserve the shut out. With just a couple of minutes left, the Goring number 10 went through on goal but as he tried to round Boys-Stones the keeper spread himself superbly before prodding the ball away from the striker with his right leg, The Goring man chased the loose ball but Boys-Stones was there again to claim his disappointing attempt to pick out a Goring attacker in the box.

It was fitting however that Bassett ended the game with the final threat. Another wicked Stephenson corner was dipping under the bar and had to be palmed over by the home goalkeeper.

In summary, four goals, three points, clean sheet, job done!

Bassett Man of the Match: Steve Lynch for his goal and two assists, but more importantly a superb performance by all in the yellow shirts of Bassett.

Credit: Ceri Stephens
Last modified on Monday 26th September 2022 at 16:45