Wilts & NE Somerset One

Wootton Bassett continued their unbeaten start to the season in with an important away win over Mendip on Saturday.

After the Somerset side's impressive unbeaten run at the end of the last season, this was always going to be a tough match for Bassett. In fact they hadn't won at Mendip for three years.

Missing five regular players, Bassett quickly gained control of the game and pushed Mendip deep into their own half for the first 20 minutes of the match.

But the home side's defence was well organised and held firm until Mike Davies played a powerful cross into the D for Kyle Barnes to round the keeper and power the ball home from an almost impossible angle. Mendip then found their attacking form and started passing the ball around the midfield.

The Bassett defence, led by Dan Jeffery, remained solid and it took a brilliant one-two move into the D to create Mendip's equaliser.

Not happy at being level in a game they were dominating Bassett turned up the pressure. Barnes and Matt Jakubiec created numerous opportunities in front of goal but found the Mendip keeper in fine form. Then, on the stroke of half time Barnes broke free from midfield, beat three defenders and slipped the ball to Jakubiec on his right.

Jakubiec shot low to the keeper's left and Barnes swooped in to send the rebound home, giving Bassett a narrow 2-1 lead at half time.

Bassett tightened up the defence in the second half. Man of the Match Ali Wood prevented any Mendip attacks from their right wing and Sam Snell, as always, put in a fine performance on the other side of the defence.

Mendip only created one more chance in the match when a powerful shot looped up off a defender's stick and Paul Warren leapt to his left to tip the ball over the bar.

Bassett then closed the game down, preventing Mendip making any progress into the final quarter of the pitch for the last ten minutes.

The result maintains Bassett's second place in Wilts & NE Somerset Division 1 and maintains the pressure on West Wilts at the top of the table.

Wootton Bassett: P.Warren, D.Jeffery, S.Snell, A.Wood, M.Skivington (c), G.Kirkup, M.Brennan, M.Davies, D.Stanley, M.Jakubiec, K.Barnes Bassett face City of Bathat home on Saturday.