Despite twice surrendering leads, Wootton Bassett Town under 18s secured their second straight victory – this time against the odds at Chippenham Town – as Matt Povey scored the winning goal with a thunderous 35-yard effort.

Inside the final 20 minutes, the scores were knotted at 3-3, but Povey fired from distance when the ball teed up perfectly for him, and despite a desperate attempt from the Chippenham 'keeper, the ball sailed into the back of the net.

Bassett had jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the first half, despite being disadvantaged by playing up the slope at Hardenhuish Park.

Their first came through Phil Tearle. Callum Dunn flicked on a cross from the right, and Tearle confidently swept the ball into the bottom right corner with his left foot.

Dunn was the scorer of the second, which was a perfect lesson in counter attacking football. Right back Dean Wason intercepted a pass just inside his own half, and seeing space, drove forward.

A gaping hole in the Chippenham midfield allowed him to advance with ease towards the home side's defence, and – after spotting a fine run across the last defender by Dunn – slipped the ball in. Coolly, and clinically, Dunn slotted past a helpless Chippenham 'keeper.

The chances were there for Bassett to extend their lead. James Baker headed over from close range from a corner, whilst the post was rattled by Dunn after Tearle sent a low ball across the face of goal.

However, Bassett were pegged back before half time as the hosts found two goals in quick succession.

They had been lucky not to get one back earlier as somehow Stuart Smedley was able to head off the line after a corner was headed towards goal from all of a yard.

Two fine strikes followed though, the first coming when Jonny Aitkenhead was rolled on the edge of the box and the second from a low 25-yard drive after Bassett failed to clear.

After the break, Bassett grabbed the lead when a peach of a strike from Josh Dimond flew into the back of the net after the midfielder let rip from 30 yards.

Chippenham equalised quickly though as a mix up between George Drewitt and 'keeper Rich Hanley eventually led to the ball being tapped in from a tight angle.

However, Bassett – and Povey – had the last laugh and the home side's frustrations showed as they were reduced to ten men in injury time when George Drewitt received a hand to the face from one of their centre forwards.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Wednesday 30th December 2020 at 22:07