Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development and Kintbury Rangers served up an eight goal thriller in the Wiltshire League Premier Division as Mark Simpkins' side claimed an impressive point against their title chasing opponents.

Kintbury were looking to close the gap to league leaders Amesbury Town to just two points at what would be the halfway point in the season for the two leading sides. But on a windy afternoon on the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground they would be frustrated in their quest as the two sides served up a goal fest that end all square.

With the wind behind them, it was the home side who went in front after a flick on from Flynn Walters from a Max Spackman throw found Kevin Lartey the wrong side of the Kintbury back line and he lobbed the advancing Charlie McCready from the right-hand side of the area.

Kintbury thought they had got back on level terms when a shot from captain Carl Jenner was saved by keeper Dan West, but George Armstrong was following up and put the ball away only to see the goal disallowed by an assistant referee's flag for offside.

The visitors were not to be denied for long though. A ball to the far post found Ross Lawrence and his shot from the right-hand side of the area deflected off Ben Spackman, deceiving keeper West, and nestled in the net for 1-1.

However, Bassett were to go into the half time break a goal to the good, Max Spackman restoring their lead. After a short corner routine involving Spencer Bowen and Walters, the ball was returned to Bowen whose cross into the box was missed by Ben Spackman, but brother Max was on hand at the far post to fire in for 2-1.

Whatever visiting manager Danny Langford said to his side at half time interval certainly did the trick, as Kintbury came out for the second half fired up and were back on level terms within a minute of the restart.

A wind-assisted kick out from his hands from McCready sailed over the Bassett defence and put the division's leading scorer

Armstrong clear, and he made no mistake with a deft touch to level matters up again.

However, despite having the advantage of the wind behind them and starting to create more chances on goal, Kintbury were to fall behind for the third time in the game.

A ball down the right from Mani Mesas put Lartey in behind the Kintbury defence and his cut back found Walters whose left foot shot from the edge of the box beat McCready and nestled in the far bottom corner of the net.

But once again Bassett were pegged back. And, as with the second goal, it was another long ball from the back that deceived the home defence. This time it was a free kick from captain Jenner that put Armstrong clear and he spectacularly half-volleyed the ball home for his 24th goal of the season.

Kintbury now sensed victory and went in front for the first time in the game when Armstrong went from scorer to provider as Jesse Bowers headed home at the far post.

Having gone behind for the first time in the game, Bassett were then temporarily reduced to ten men when Zach Pettifer was sin binned.

Kintbury went close on three occasions to extending their lead but, despite the numerical disadvantage, Bassett were to score an equaliser of their own.

Lartey, running at the visitor's defence, saw the last man back off until he reached the edge of the area and he fired into the bottom far corner of the net for a fine solo goal.

With the hosts restored to a full complement of players they then went close to getting the winner when a poor back pass set Bruno Martins one-on-one with McCready. However his shot went wide of the post and the two sides had to settle for a point apiece after an end-to-end game that could have gone either way.

Credit: Mark Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 24th December 2023 at 10:45