In the only game played in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League this weekend, Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development ended their recent run of negative results as a Mani Mesas brace earned a 2-0 victory against Calne Town Reserves in their penultimate home game of the season.

On a bitterly cold day, the two young sides played some neat passing football in the opening half without creating too many chances at either end.

It was therefore no surprise that it would need a set piece for the deadlock to be broken.

A corner from the right taken by Harry Walters found the head of Mesas at the far post and his header came down off the underside of the crossbar and into the net for 1-0 to Bassett.

The hosts almost doubled their lead a minute later a poor clearance from Calne keeper Bailey Leach went straight to Walters but his attempted chip from distance went sailing over the bar.

It remained just the one goal in the opening forty-five in what had been a sporting contest between the two sides, well officiated by Patrick Butler and his two assistants.

Bassett came out for the second half looking to quickly extend their lead and went close on two occasions in the opening minutes.

First, leading scorer Nat Bell had a golden chance but his shot from just inside the area was spectacularly blocked on the line by Calne defender Matt Ashman to prevent his side falling further behind.

Three minutes later Bell was involved again, cutting in from the left and feeding Matt Capel whose shot sailed over the bar when a bit more composure could well have seen him find the net.

Bassett were to eventually double their lead though, and once again it came from a corner from the right hand side. Played in hard and low, this it was met by Mesas on the half volley with his shot flying into the net and giving Leach in the Calne goal no chance.

Bassett pushed for another with a series of chances that went just the wrong side of the post or crossbar.

However, it it was not all one-way traffic. Calne's best hope always looked to be the lively Jack Smith, but he was given few, if any, clear cut chances by the home defence with both Zach Pettifer and Adam House doing an excellent job in keeping the Calne forward at bay.

The best opportunity that came Smith's way was a free kick just outside the box, but it came to nothing, and the home side were able to celebrate a clean sheet to go with the three points in a 2-0 win.

The victory lifted Bassett back above Larkhall Athletic Development into fourth spot, but Larkhall have eight games in hand and are only two points behind.

Credit: Mark Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 3rd March 2024 at 08:06