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Bassett surrender a 2 - 0 lead for the second week in a row (1 Nov 2008)
Team Bath Buccs. F 5 – 3 Wootton Bassett Mens 1st XI (Reporter: Dan Jeffery)
Wootton Bassett continued a difficult season with an away loss to Bath Buccs F. The match started inauspiciously for Bassett as Grant Kirkup was lost to a calf injury during the warm-up, leaving Bassett with only 11 men. Despite this, a confident Bassett team immediately piled pressure on the Buccs defence. Wave after wave of attacks finally led to Kyle Barnes scoring after neat interplay between Barnes and Mansfield. Barnes doubled the advantage minutes later, finishing smartly thanks to an incisive through ball from winger Ross Pinnuck.
Bath eased the pressure with some good tackling and neat passing. Good defence, led by man of the match Mark Brown, negated a series of Bath attacks. However, 20 minutes into the game a penalty corner was awarded, from which keeper Paul Warren was well beaten by a straight strike on goal. Within seconds of the restart Bath won possession and drove forward with menace. Bassett could have no complaints as excellent short passing circumvented some desperate defending and Bath slotted home with a short tap-in. The half ended badly for Bassett as Buccs struck the ball into the Bassett D at chest height. The scattering defence could only turn and watch as a Bath player was on hand to touch the ball in leading to a 3-2 half time advantage.
Bassett seemed rejuvenated after the break, and levelled the score with an excellent break and solo effort from Barnes. Unfortunately for Bassett, Barnes’ attacking prowess was negated for the rest of the game by a suddenly steely Bath defence. As time passed, the lack of a substitute showed, as Bassett’s tired legs struggled to keep up with Bath’s short passing game. 15 minutes from the end Bath took the lead for good from another penalty corner. The win was assured when an ill advised pass from a Bassett defender was intercepted by Bath, and Warren was beaten again.
Scorer: Kyle Barnes (3). Man of the match: Mark Brown
Team: Paul Warren, Mark Brown, Max Brennan, Ali Wood, Dan Jeffery, Dan Stanley, Mark Tolley, Kris Mansfield, Ross Pinnuck, Kyle Barnes, Mark Turner
Wootton Bassett Mens 2nd XI 1 – 2 West Wilts D (Reporter: Neal Sharp)
Following their important win last weekend Bassett’s second string were involved in another close match at the Lime Kiln, this time narrowly losing out.
Both teams cancelled each other out in the first half with very few chances created at either end. The only entertainment was provided by a spectacular save from Bassett keeper Richard Batey.
The second half started with Bassett on the front foot. The first chance of the half fell to young striker Matt Daniell who’s strike flew just wide of the post. Against the run of play West Wilts won two short corners in quick succession, and took full advantage to pull out a 2 – 0 lead. Despite their best efforts, Bassett’s lack of composure in front of goal saw them fail to narrow the deficit. Finally, a defence splitting ball reached Matt Thompson up front who slotted the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal.
Scorer: Matt Thompson. Man of the match: Matt Daniell
Team: R.Batey, D.Metson, R.Pearce, N.Sharp, J.Sharp, R.Appleby, L.Salisbury (c), M.Thompson, C.Field, M.Daniell, J.Lee, D.Beal
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Single Salisbury Strike Secures 3 Points for the 2's (25 Oct 2008)
City of Bath A 4 – 2 Wootton Bassett Mens 1st XI (Reporter: Kristian Mansfield)
Bassett travelled to Bath full of confidence following their win the previous week against Westbury. Their game plan was to keep it tight at the back and exploit the space up front using the exceptional pace of their front line.
This worked well from the start and the visitors quickly gained the upper hand, with well linked passes eventually giving Kyle Barnes enough space to score the opener. Bassett’s second goal followed the same pattern. The midfield linked well with the front men and Barnes was able to pop home his second. After fifteen minutes Bath began to get the measure of Bassett’s tactics and fired home a well constructed goal. They pressed hard, forcing several great saves from man of the match keeper Paul Warren, before finally drawing level just before the half time whistle.
In the second half Bassett began well with several half chances to score, but gradually Bath gained control in midfield and scored two quick goals to pull out a 4 – 2 lead. Bassett picked up the pace but were unable to break through to close the gap: a disappointing result, especially having surrendered an early two goal lead.
Scorer: Kyle Barnes (2). Man of the match: Paul Warren, Ali Sammon
Team: P.Warren, S.Bell (c), D.Jeffery, M.Skivington, M.Tolley, M.Brennan, A.Sammon, M.Turner, D.Stanley, K.Mansfield, K.Barnes, R.Pinnuck
Wootton Bassett Mens 2nd XI 1 – 0 Swindon C (Reporter: Matt Daniell)
Bassett pressed forward straight from the start. The midfield of Dale Titcombe, Grant Kirkup and Dave Gardner injected numerous penetrating balls into the opposition D, only to be denied by the post or deflected wide by the Swindon defence. Only the final finish eluded the home side. Swindon rarely threatened, with man of the match John Sharp snuffing out most attacks before they reached the rock solid defence of Rupert Pearce and Mark Brown. Swindon’s sole effort of a goalless first half was from a long range shot that went wide of the post.
Bassett entered the second half searching for a goal. Ten minutes in they almost found it when Brown smashed a ball into the opposition D to Matt Daniell who just failed to put it in the goal. The Swindon keeper pulled off several fine saves to deny the home side and they had to wait until ten minutes from time to seal a deserved win, when captain Luke Salisbury received a pass from Dave Beale, slipped his marker and put the ball into the back of the net.
Scorer: Luke Salisbury. Man of the match: John Sharp.
Team: R.Batey, M.Brown, R.Pearce, J.Sharp, R.Appleby, D.Gardner, G.Kirkup, L.Salisbury(c), P.Sammon, M.Daniell, D.Titcombe, N.Sharp, T.Ponting, D.Beale.
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Barnes Hat trick seals first league win for Bassett (18 Oct 2008)
Wootton Bassett 1st XI 5 – 3 Westbury B (Reporter: Stu Bell)
Bassett 1st XI were without a point in the Avon Division before this game, but a much improved team effort resulted in a first victory, over Westbury B.
From the start Bassett looked sharper than their opponents, with a goal in the first two minutes by Kyle Barnes after being put through by Kris Mansfield. Confidence was boosted further when 10 minutes later a long corner was awarded and the ball found a dynamic Dan Jeffery at the top of the D who coolly powered it low in the corner for 2-0. This was no less than the home side deserved, but Westbury fought back towards the end of the first half when they pounced on the loose ball following a sharp save from Paul Warren.
Westbury followed this a minute after the break as Bassett gave away a short corner that was converted well to make the score 2-2. This galvanised Bassett into action and they responded immediately with another goal from a Kyle Barnes run and finish in the corner from the edge of the D. From this point Bassett began to stamp their authority on the game, with some excellent play characterised by a great goal line clearance from Jim Wright and a trademark Barnes hat trick goal when one-on-one with the keeper. Mansfield was also rewarde for his selfless play with a lobbed goal from a free hit over a flapping keeper late on.
The visitors grabbed a consolation goal for 5-3 but it did not spoil Bassett’s enjoyment of a first win in this highly competitive Avon league.
Scorers: Kyle Barnes (3), Dan Jeffery, Kristian Mansfield. Man of the match: Ali Sammon
Team: P.Warren, S.Bell (c), A.Wood, J.Wright, D.Jeffery, G.Kirkup, M.Tolley, R.Pinnuck, M.Turner, K.Barnes.
City of Bath 2 – 1 Wootton Bassett 2nd XI (Reporter: Matt Daniel)
Bassett 2nds losing streak in Wilts & NE Somerset Division 2 continued when they travelled away to City of Bath.
In the absence of some key players in midfield, man of the Match Mark Brown immediately took control and marshalled the team from centre back. Bassett, with their new 3-4-3 formation working well, pushed hard down the right in the first half to put City's defence under pressure throughout the first half. But, in the dying seconds, the visitors gave away a short corner that was scrambled out by keeper Lee Baldry, only to see his efforts penalised. The resulting penalty flick was converted above the backboard on his right for Bath to go in one up at half time..
Bassett came straight back in the second half and made several good runs without reward. Bath slowly began to dominate and scored to make it 2-0 from a short corner, Bassett were desperate for a goal to get back into the game and were successful when, five minutes from time Mark Brown's powerful strike found the stick of Matt Daniell at the post who flicked the ball into the back of the net. Bassett saw a chance of salvaging something from the game and began to pile on the pressure. With one final attempt, Daniell adjudged to have fouled the keeper as he put the ball back into the box and the final whistle blew at 2-1.
Scorer: Matt Daniell. Man of the match: Mark Brown.
Team: L.Baldry, M.Brown, D,Metson, L.Salisbury, M.Daniell, R.Appleby, M.Thompson, J.Lee, T.Ponting, D.Beale, E.King, J.Sharp
Marlborough 4 – 0 Wootton Bassett 3rd XI (Reporter: Dan Metson)
Bassett travelled to Marlborough for their third Badgers league match this season on Sunday.
Scoring opportunities were rare for the visitors in the first half, but the defensive partnership of Rupert Pearce and Daniel Metson held firm and an under-strength Bassett side held the skilled youngsters of Marlborough to 0-0 at the break.
After changing their formation at half time, Bassett came out with new intent and put instant pressure on Marlborough. Man of the match Tom Williamson pulled off several excellent saves but his goalkeeping skills could not deny the home side their first goal. Colin Field played well at the back until an ankle injury forced him out of the game. With one of their most experienced players out the squad, Bassett soon fell 2-0 behind.
Marlborough’s youngsters now took control of the game and, although Williamson dived to keep out a well hit shot, another forward was following in to flick it over his head for their third. This was soon followed by their fourth to put the game well beyond Bassett’s reach.
Bassett came close to a consolation goal in the final minutes as Matt Daniell dribbled the ball into the D, only to be denied by the keeper and, despite Rob Appleby picking up the rebound, the resulting short range shot was tipped wide and the score remained 4-0 at the close.
Man of the match: Tom Williamson.
Team: T Williamson, R Pearce, D Metson, N Sharp, C Field, M Henshaw, B Henshaw, M Daniell, R Appleby, K Page, A Lyons, M Gowshall, T Ponting
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Bleak weekend for Bassett (11 Oct 2008)
Bath Buccs 6 – 1 Wootton Bassett Mens 1st XI (Reporter: Dan Jeffery)
Bassett Men’s 1st XI continued what is proving to be a challenging season with their third straight loss to an impressive Bath Buccaneers side.
The opening exchanges of the game were a tense affair, with neither side managing to gain the upper hand until a clumsy tackle by James Wright was deemed worthy of a yellow card. Reduced to ten men, the Bassett defence, well-marshalled by Ali Wood, refused to buckle under an onslaught by Bath. Several penalty corners were saved well by Bassett keeper Matt Thompson. However, with Bassett camped in their own half, the pressure proved too much shortly before halftime. A well struck penalty corner by Buccs found a chink in Thompson’s armour and gave Bath the lead.
After the break Bath continued to press however, they found themselves over-extended during an early attack and the counterattack, led by Kyle Barnes and Matt Jakubiec, saw Barnes neatly slip the ball past the Buccs keeper to tie the game.
Instead of providing a spark for Bassett, it was Bath that appeared more motivated by the goal. Pouncing on a defensive error, the home side’s forwards passed the ball well round Bassett defenders before slotting the ball home with a short range tap in. Their third goal followed only moments later in similar fashion. A demoralised Bassett side could find no purchase going forward, squandering possession several times. Bath’s pressure was telling and, despite several fine saves from Man of the Match Thompson, they scored twice more from penalty corners and once from open play.
Bassett were saved from further damage by the final whistle, 6-1 the final score. Three games into their Avon league campaign and with no points on the board, its back to the drawing board for Captain Stu Bell.
Scorer: Kyle Barnes. Man of the match: Matt Thompson
Team: M.Thompson, S.Bell (c), A.Wood, J.Wright, D.Jeffery, G.Kirkup, M.Tolley, R.Pinnuck, M.Turner, M.Skivington, K.Barnes, M.Jakubiec,
Wootton Bassett Mens 2nd XI 0 - 4 Chippenham B (Reporter: Tom Ponting)
After last week’s Impressive display against West Wilts, Wootton Bassett suffered another unlucky defeat in Wilts & NE Somerset Division 2.
Bassett started the game the stronger side, dominating the midfield by moving the ball around extremely well. Unfortunately they lost their central defender Dave Gardner early on following a hit in the face from a Chippenham stick. But Bassett were able to retain the upper hand throughout the first half with Pete Sammon and Jakeem Lee both coming close. However, it remained goalless at the break.
Chippenham come out far the stronger side in the second half, they quickly went ahead from a well worked short corner and went 2-0 up shortly after with a shot from another short corner just out of goalkeeper Lee Baldry’s reach.
Bassett regained their form and began to dominate the game, although Man of the match Baldry was called on to make some crucial stops from Chippenham breakaways. But, with the home side pressing forward, Chippenham struck twice more on the break to kill off any chance of a Bassett comeback. Bassett continued to push hard for some consolation in the final minutes but couldn’t find a way through the visitors’ defence. Although it was a very promising Bassett performance, the score remained 4-0 at full time.
Man of the match: Lee Baldry.
Team: L.Baldry, D.Metson, D.Gardner, T.Ponting, A.Sammon, N.Sharp, L.Salisbury (c), M.Davies, D.Beal, M.Daniell, R.Appleby, J.Sharp, J.Lee, P.Sammon
Wootton Bassett Mens 3rd XI 5 – 6 Devizes (Reporter: Dan Metson)
Wootton Bassett and Devizes fought a thrilling Wiltshire Badgers league match in hot sunshine at Lime Kiln on Sunday.
Devizes showed their intent, attacking straight from the whistle, but the home side’s midfield allowed them little time and space, forcing errors from the away team. Bassett’s quick passing was rewarded when an accurate pass from Mark Tolley was flicked into the back of the net by Matt Daniell. Devizes immediately struck back on the counter, with a hard sweep into the goal and then another searching cross caught the foot of a Bassett defender. From the resulting short corner, Bassett were penalised for a tackle at the top of the D giving the away team a chance to equalize through a penalty flick. The young Devizes forward stepped up to the mark and placed it just above the backboard, with keeper Tom Williamson just unable to reach it.
As half time approached, Dale Titcombe wrong-footed the Devizes midfield as he slipped a ball through to Tom Ponting, whose quick pass found Matt Daniell. A superb piece of individual skill saw Daniell take the ball past two defenders, only to be denied by the charging goalie. However, he didn’t give up, collecting the ball and beating the keeper and several defenders to the line for an easy finish. But it was Devizes who took the lead into half time after a powerful shot into the bottom right corner.
Bassett came out strongly after the break, passing round and pressuring Devizes in their search for an equaliser. An accurate cross by Ponting was slotted home by Man of the match Robert Appleby, bringing the score level at three all. The visitors came back strongly, stringing passes into the D. A high ball looked to be going wide until a young Devizes forward tapped it in off the top of his stick. Bassett immediately struck back. Matt Gowshall’s superb play down the right was finally rewarded when his shot from the far side of the D pinged into the net.
Bassett kept up the pressure as they searched for the winner, but were penalised for a foot inside the D. Devizes took full advantage, taking the lead from the short corner. With the clock running down, the home side went in search of an equalizer. A foul in the opposition’s D gave Bassett a chance to equalise, but Ponting’s low flick was brilliantly saved by their keeper. Bassett regained the possession instantly, with Titcombe again picking out Ponting with an accurate aerial ball. He brought it down perfectly into the path of Daniell who equalised after scooping it over the keeper. Then, in the dying minutes Devizes snatched the winner when they drilled a rebounded shot f into the bottom corner.
Scorers: Matt Daniell (3), Rob Appleby, Matt Gowshall. Man of the match: Rob Appleby.
Team: T.Williamson, R.Pearce (c),B.Henshaw, C.Field, D.Metson, M.Daniell, M.Gowshall, A.Lyons, R.Appleby, T.Ponting, D.Titcombe, M.Tolley, A.Wood.
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Barnes hat-trick on an otherwise lean day (4 Oct 2008)
Wootton Bassett Mens 1st XI 4 – 6 West Wilts B (Reporter: Mark Skivington)
Following last week’s impressive performance, Bassett slumped to their first home defeat in over a season.
The home team started on the back foot and, in truth, never found anything close to their form in the previous game. West Wilts struck first, predictably from a well worked short corner. While Bassett tried everything in an attempt to get out of first gear West Wilts struck twice more running away to an early 3-0 lead. Bassett briefly raised their game and started attacking the visitors’ goal, Matt Jakubiec and Mark Turner both going close. Eventually Kyle Barnes pulled a goal back for Bassett, with a close range effort lifted over the ‘keeper. With half time approaching West Wilts went back on the attack and added a forth from another short corner.
Following the break Bassett came out much stronger and quickly pulled two goals back, the first a solo effort from Barnes and the second a short corner drilled home by Ross Pinnuck. Minutes later Wilts struck again, this time on the counter attack to take the score to 5 – 3. Sensing a fightback, Wilts increased their aggression in the final quarter of the game, with Bassett skipper Stu Bell being hit on the body three times from lifted balls. Eventually Bell had to go off when an attempted aerial ball struck him on the head from close range. The Wilts player was sin-binned for 10 minutes but, despite Bassett having the numerical advantage, it was the away team that struck next, with a goal on the counter attack. Bassett did manage to pull one back in the last minutes to bring the final score to 6 – 4 and complete Barnes’ hat-trick.
Scorers: Kyle Barnes (3), Ross Pinnuck. Man of the match: Kyle Barnes
Team: P.Warren, M.Bray, S.Bell (c), J.Wright, D.Jeffery, M.Skivington, G.Kirkup, K.Mansfield, M.Tuner, M.Jakubiec, K.Barnes, M.Brennan, R.Pinnuck.
West Wilts C 4 – 0 Wootton Bassett Mens 2nd XI (Reporter: Luke Salisbury)
Bassett’s second team battled against another West Wits team, but the 4 - 0 score line failed to reflect the closeness of the contest.
Wilts started the stronger team moving the ball around the pitch but, despite their dominance in midfield, man of the match Dave Gardner was able to neutralise their attacks. Then, in the fifteenth minute a defence spiting pass found a Wilts striker who shot low into the corner, Minutes later Bassett found themselves two down from a short corner and, as half time approached, the visitors went three goals up with a sweep from close range.
Bassett regrouped in the second half and almost pulled a goal back when Luke Salisbury deflected a shot goal bound at the near post, only to see it hit the Wilts keeper. Mid way into the half Bassett hit the post with a powerful strike from Matthew Daniell but, with Bassett searching for a goal, Wilts got a fourth on the counter attack just before the final whistle.
Salisbury was pleased with his team’s performance: “The game was closer than the score line suggests and, despite some of our regular players being unavailable, we were not outclassed by a team that was playing in the division above us last season.”
Man of the match: Dave Gardner.
Team: T.Williamson, D.Metson, D.Gardner, J.Sharp, T.Ponting, M.Davies, A.Sammon, R.Cook, M.Brown, M.Daniell, L.Salisbury (c), R.Appleby.
Bath Buccs 11 – 0 Wootton Bassett Mens 3rd XI (Reporter: Rupert Pearce)
Bassett’s under 16’s and over 35’s took to the pitch in their first Wiltshire Badger’s League encounter at Bath University’s Sports Village on Sunday. Due to confusion over the league’s age rules, Bassett ended up facing a more experienced team.
Despite the score line there were promising performances all over the pitch. Daniel Metson played brilliantly at the back, robbing the skilful Buccs players of the ball on numerous occasions. Goalie Tim Williamson pulled off some athletic saves, receiving the applause of the home side’s coaches as well as his own team mates. Rob Applebly and Tom Ponting chased everything down in the middle of the park while wingers Keiran Page and Matt Gowshall never stopped running.
Matt Daniell and Andy Lyons played well up front and came close to grabbing a goal for the visitors on several occasions. Toby Heaton put in a composed performance at left back, while senior players Rupert Pearce, Matt Henshaw and Colin Field led the way.
Man of the match: Daniel Metson.
Team: T.Williamson, T.Heaton, R.Pearce (c), D.Metson, T.Ponting, M.Henshaw, R.Appleby, K.Page, M.Daniell, A.Lyons, M.Gowshall, C.Field.
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Barnes inspires Bassett (27 Sept 2008)
Team Bath Buccs D 4 - 3 Wootton Bassett Mens 1st XI
Newly promoted Bassett’s mens 1st XI began their Avon League campaign with a thrilling battle against Bath, last season’s runaway leaders, narrowly losing 4-3.
The University side dominated the early exchanges but, having soaked up the first ten minutes of early pressure, Bassett’s confidence grew. Fantastic defensive play from youngster Ali Wood kept Bassett in the game, with an inspired performance from man of the match goalkeeper Paul Warren providing the final line of defence when Wood was finally beaten. With the students rattled by their failure to score, Bassett took full advantage: Bray fired the ball forward to Kyle Barnes, who sprinted into the D, faked to strike and then calmly lifted the ball over the outstretched keeper to give the visitors the lead at half time.
With no sign of ill-effects from ‘Fresher’s Week’ the students threw everything at Bassett in the second half. Wood went off injured, but the victors’ defence held up well until Bath finally broke through with an incisive finish. Two minutes later they struck again, this time slotting home a rebound from a Warren save. Not content with two quick goals Bath added a third, this time from a mid air sweep fired into the goal at close range.
Stunned, Bassett picked themselves up and responded in typical fashion. A searching cross from Mark Turner hit a Bath foot inside the D and Grant Kirkup slammed the ball home from the resulting penalty corner. With Bassett now camped out in the Bath half, the students scored their fourth on the counter attack. However, from the restart Bassett went straight on the attack and quickly pulled a goal back when Barnes clipped the ball into the D for Dan Jeffery to fire low into the corner of the goal and take the score to 4 - 3.
In the dying seconds of the game Bassett won one final penalty corner but could not find an equaliser. Despite losing, they were in up-beat mood after the match, having put in a great performance against last season’s form side.
Scorers: Kyle Barnes, Grant Kirkup, Dan Jeffery Man of the match: Paul Warren
Team: P.Warren, S.Bell (c) .A.Wood, J.Wright, D.Jeffery, M.Bray, M.Tolley, M.Skivington, M.Jakubiec, G.Kirkup, K.Mansfield, K.Barnes, M.Turner.
Wootton Bassett Mens 2nd XI 1 – 1 West Wilts E
Bassett mens second team dropped two points in their first Wilts & NE Somerset Division 2 league game of the season.
After a bright start, Bassett scored first through Ross Pinnuck. The home side continued to control the game but were unable to convert this into further goals. Richard Batey’s goal was never threatened until mid-way through the second half when, in a rare attack, a West Wilts forward deflected the ball into the net to level the scores.
Bassett threw players forward in an attempt to regain the lead but, as the clock ticked towards full-time and their desperation increased, they looked less and less likely to score. 1-1 at the final whistle must be regarded as two points dropped.
Scorer: R.Pinnuck. Man of the match: Mark Brown
Team: R.Batey, D.Gardner, D.Metson. M.Brown, J.Sharp, N.Sharp, L.Salisbury (c), M.Brennan, A.Sammon, R.Cook, R.Pinnuck, P.Sammon, T.Ponting, D.Beal.
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Mens 3rd XI prepare for first full season (20 Sept 2008)
Witney D 2 – 1 Wootton Bassett Mens 3rd XI
The newly formed mens 3rd XI played their first competitive match at Witney in glorious sunshine on Saturday and produced a very creditable performance which bodes well for the rest of the season. Although all the young players in the team were making their debuts for the club and playing a mature Witney side, they combined well with the senior players to produce an enjoyable and hard-fought match.
Bassett came close early on with a well-worked move which saw Matt Gowshaw hold off a defender and slip the ball past the keeper, only to see his shot go the wrong side of the post. But persistence paid off and they eventually took the lead mid-way through the first half from a short corner which was tucked away by Pete Sammon. However Witney came back and despite a clutch of short corners being saved by the agile Tom Williamson in goal, they managed to level the score just before half time.
In the second half, lack of match fitness began to tell on the inexperienced Bassett side, as Witney started to press forward. Solid defending from young Toby Heaton and 13 year old, man of the match, Ben Henshaw kept the opposition at bay but, despite a last ditch attempt from John Sharp, Witney finally managed to slot home the winning goal as the final whistle approached.
Scorer: P.Sammon. Man of the match: B.Henshaw
Team: T.Williamson, R.Pearce (c), B.Henshaw, T.Heaton, M.Gowshall, J.Sharp, A.Lyons, P.Sammon, M.Henshaw, C.Field, S.Gowshall, R.Appleby
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