WOOTTON Bassett boss Dave Turner admitted he didn’t quite know what to expect from his players when he arrived for his side’s derby clash at Cricklade.

Five Bassett players spent the majority of the week in Benidorm for the stag do of former Rylands Way front man Sam Collier, only returning to Britain on Friday afternoon, but Turner’s side eventually won 2-1 thanks to two goals from Alex Green.

The five, including Mitch Wyatt, Matt Bown, Craig Bowden and James Turner, all started the game, and Turner was proud of what they achieved.

“They got back on Friday afternoon, but when they turned up on Saturday morning it looked as if they had only just come in,” he said. “The state of them had to be seen to be believed.

“They were all over the place, and I am not surprised given they were drinking for four or five days solid.

“My son James went and he can barely speak now, and looks like death warmed up, but they all came back and played 90 minutes, and I am proud of them for doing that.

“We don’t pay them anything and they rarely miss training or anything like that, so they deserve to have some fun, and I have nothing but admiration for them after getting the result.”

Green’s first goal came after Aaron Webb had given the home side an early lead, with the veteran equalising just before half time with a neat finish.

The striker started the second period in the same manner in which he finished the first, and scored the decisive goal in the 50th minute, his tenth goal of the season.

Despite being pleased with the result, Turner admitted his player’s exploits in Spain didn’t make for a pretty performance.

“Against Clanfield in our last game (3-1 win) I told the boys that was the best they have played all season,” he said. “This game was probably the worst performance of the season, it just didn’t happen for us.

“Obviously half the team being away for a week played a massive part in that, and I am sure they found it tough, which makes it an even more impressive win.”

The win moves Bassett up to fourth in the Division One West table, six points behind Winterbourne United but with a game in hand.

Turner’s side’s three remaining games of the season are all at home, beginning with an important clash with Cirencester Town Dev on Easter Monday.

Elsewhere in the division, Malmesbury lost 1-0 at home to Brimscombe/Thrupp, and New College were hammered 5-0 at home to Carterton.