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Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development recorded a vital 3-1 home win against Faringdon Town.
Bassett started the day five points above the drop zone and six points ahead of their scheduled opponents, although Faringdon had played three games less.
In an evenly matched game between two sides in terms of possession and chances, one side was to prove to be more efficient in front of goal to claim the three points and that was to be Bassett.
They went in front with just seven minutes on the clock and there was an element of good fortune about the goal as what looked like a cross from the right from leading scorer Flynn Walters deceived Faringdon keeper Jack Gibson and ended up in the far top corner of the net for 1-0.
Bassett then doubled their lead when a ball over the top found Mani Mesas who beat his defender and then placed a shot past Gibson into the far bottom corner of the net for 2-0.
The home side were buoyed by the two goals went in search of a third and two minutes later Walters went close again, firing just over after neat interplay involving Mesas and Dale Richards.
Both sides continued to enjoy plenty of possession but when the visitors did put the home side under pressure from balls into the box, they found keeper Adam House in commanding form, coming to claim and successfully take all of the crosses and corners and it remained 2-0 at the break.
Seven minutes into the second half Bassett went further in front after a corner into the box eluded Gibson and his defenders and was headed in at the back post by Mesas for his second of the game.
To their credit Faringdon continued to try and get themselves back into the game and, with the home side seemingly thinking the game was won, started to put Bassett under sustained pressure.
They went close to pulling one back 18 minutes from time when a free kick was acrobatically turned over by House.
However, from the resulting corner Luke Davenport found the back of the net with House this time unable to prevent the ball going in as Faringdon pulled one back.
Faringdon continued to pressurise the home goal and Matthew Bibby went close ten minutes from time with an effort from outside the box that went just over.
Five minutes later skipper Raymond Lovell had a header that went just wide.
Bassett saw out the closing minutes though to register a 3-1 win and three vital points in their quest to avoid the drop.
Credit: Mark Smedley
Last modified on Tuesday 21st January 2025 at 10:04
