Bath Buccs 3s 1-4 Wootton Bassett 1s

Bath Buccs 3s 1 – 4 Wootton Bassett 1s

After having their first league match of the season against Bournemouth postponed last week due to a frozen pitch Bassett were eager to get off to a good start in their away match against 3rd placed Bath Buccs 3s. Bassett looked a little nervy and apprehensive for the first fifteen minutes with Bath building some good attacks down the wings resulting in strong crosses into the D, luckily for the Bassett side Bath were unable to get the finishing touch on any of these chances. Bath were then awarded a succession of short corners but Meg Emms in goal and the Bassett defence fought hard to clear the ball out of danger each time. Bassett then seemed to settle and held the majority of possession for the remainder of the half. Becky Thomas played well as centre half building attacks and distributing the ball effectively to her team mates. Some good runs from Sarah Hall and player of the match Freia Mcgregor on the wings pulled the Bath defence apart creating space for both Emma Collison and Vic Sammon to attack down the middle. The first goal came not long before the half time whistle when Collison picked up the ball in midfield, dribbled past a couple of defenders before passing to Abi Iles who took the initial shot on goal, but Hall got the rebound to put the visitors ahead.

The second half began much the same as the first, Bath putting pressure on Bassett, but Tegan Buchanan, Helen Wright, Tracy Fieldsend and Becky Parkhurst all communicated well and held strong in defence. Bath were awarded a penalty flick not long into the half for their shot being stopped with a foot on the goal line by a Bassett defender, the Bath attacker neatly converted the stroke past Emms in goal to pull the score level. Bassett reacted well picking up the pace and it wasn’t long before they got a goal back when Suzanne Coles fired a great ball from midfield straight into the D where Collison got a neat deflection to wrong foot the keeper. Shortly after, the away side were awarded a short corner which Buchanan struck perfectly into the bottom right at the ideal height to beat the goal keeper’s outstretched leg. Bath were still putting up a fight but were struggling to string together attacks with the Bassett side intercepting and moving the ball around really well. A short corner was given to Bassett just before the final whistle was blown allowing all Bassett players to push up for a final chance on goal. The chance was not wasted as Tracy Fieldsend scored Bassett’s fourth goal when she latched onto Iles’ cross with a lifted slap hit finish, much to hers and the teams delight!!

This win moved Bassett into top place in East Division above previous leaders Bournemouth. Bassett face Swanage and Wareham away next Saturday.