Bassett lose their momentum at Bicester (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Bassett lose their momentum at Bicester

AFTER a confidence-boosting win at Almondsbury last week, Wootton Bassett went straight back to square one with a 1-0 loss to bottom side Bicester in the Hellenic Premier.

The loss was made even worse when key midfielder Dave Tyler was took to hospital with a neck injury with 20 minutes left in the match.

Proceedings didn't start well for Bassett with Bicester creating a flurry of early chances, which should have been converted. Mark Wickens should have scored inside four minutes when he slid in at the back post, connecting with Steve Blackwood cross, and fired over from six yards.

On 15 minutes, Bicester went ahead for good. Mark Scanes coolly slid the ball underneath Daryl Simms from 15 yards after Louis Pilgrim ran the ball through the Bassett defence and squared to Scanes.

Bassett failed to come close to scoring and with 18 minutes left, while contending for a header, Tyler fell and injured his neck forcing the match to be stopped for half an hour.

When play resumed Chris Mills had the chance to score but failed to latch onto a Rich Willis header as keeper Richard Darvill palmed the ball away.

Another loss at home to Tuffley today could condemn Bassett.

Highworth went to Pewsey on the back of a 6-0 thumping of Hungerford.

Phil Corcoran scored a hat-trick for the second successive game, Justin Miller hit two and new signing Kevin Coles came off the bench to complete the scoring late on.

Highworth are now just a point behind leaders Slimbridge after their loss at home to Carterton.

Fairford remain comfortably in the top eight after a superb 2-0 win at Bishops Cleeve.

Shrivenham moved up to third in Division One East thanks to a 5-0 win over Quarry Nomads.

All the goals came in the first half with doubles from Steve Avenell and Alex Green and a Russell Byrne strike.

Brinn Keetch's goal was not enough to save Purton from a 2-1 defeat at Cheltenham Saracens.

Malmesbury Vics lost 3-0 at home to Middle Barton and Cirencester United drew 2-2 at Harrow Hill.

l DIDCOT are on their way to White Hart Lane for the FA Vase final. The Hellenic outfit beat Jarrow Roofing 1-0 on Saturday to take the semi-final 2-0 on aggregate. They will meet AFC Sudbury in the final.