Hockey

WOOTTON Bassett maintained their 100 per cent home record with a 7-2 defeat of Wilts & North East Somerset 1 rivals Shepton Mallet.

Having lost for only the third time this season the previous weekend, Bassett were nervous in the opening minutes against a Shepton side coming off a win over league leaders West Wilts.

The visitors were passing the ball around quickly and closing Bassett down when they lost possession. As the half wore on Bassett grew in confidence and started attacking the goal of the away side.

Stu Bell and Dan Stanley were consistently causing problems for the Shepton defence on the left wing.

However, it took a link-up between man of the match James Wright and Kyle Barnes to create the first goal, Matt Jakubiec providing the finishing touch at the far post.

Three minutes later Bassett won a free hit on the edge of the D, and Mark Tolley slipped the ball to his right for Mark Skivington to drive it home.

Firmly in control of the game now, Bassett piled on the pressure and added a further two goals before half- time. Stanley swept in the third and Wright added the fourth on the stroke of half-time with a skilful trap, turn and shot into the corner of the goal.

After the interval Bassett maintained their attacking play as Barnes shot low, picked up his rebound and lifted it over the keeper.

As in previous weeks Bassett then eased off. This allowed the visitors back into the game and two skilful goals quickly followed from the young Shepton midfielder.

Bassett struggled to regain their composure until Grant Kirkup picked up the ball, beat his marker and struck the ball low to the keeper's right to putthe game beyond doubt.

With the final whistle approaching, Barnes put a gloss on the result, adding Bassett's seventh of the game and his 36th goal in 17 league appearances this season.

Bassett: P Warren, S Snell, M Bray, S Bell, A Wood, G Kirkup, M Tolley, M Skivington (c), D Stanley, M Jakubiec, K Barnes, J Wright On Saturday, Bassett face a tough away match against Bath Buccs, conscious that they need a win to keep up the pressure on the top of the league and maintain their seven-point cushion over third-placed Swindon. The 2nds face Swindon in a 1pm push back at the Lime Kiln.