Students school Bassett

Royal Wootton Bassett Town may have been riding a high after their 5-1 midweek derby victory against Malmesbury Victoria. But Sam Collier's were quickly brought back down to earth as they suffered an emphatic 3-0 home defeat against Hartpury University.

Bassett were second best throughout as the student side - well-organised and far sharper than their hosts - eased to victory.

Centre half Josh Roney's pair of headed goals from corners either side of half time got the visitors going while Luke Salter tapped in their third midway through the second period.

Hartpury's margin of victory could - and arguably should - have been greater too as the visitors dominated possession and proved a constant threat from set pieces.

The visitors made most of the early running, though lacked the cutting edge needed to make an early breakthrough.

Nathan Jenkins had the best of their early chances, coming close from consecutive Salter corners. First, he saw a low first time shot at the near post deflected wide Unmarked, he then rose to meet Salter's subsequent delivery with a firm header that was again blocked.

Riley McGregor was next to have a go for Hartpury. The ball was played into centre forward Riley Osborn who, with his back to goal, set the ball back for McGregor. He then produced a firm 20 yard drive that had James Foster beaten, but fortunately for Bassett his effort struck the right post.

An opening goal seemed imminent - but it almost went Bassett's way as midfielder Junathain Walker fashioned a chance out of nothing and saw a powerful long range drive sting the palms of visiting 'keeper Steve Sarkodie.

Otherwise, Bassett were reduced to trying to catch Hartpury on the break, though the visitors - with the legs in their team to quickly recover after losing the ball - were typically able to snuff out any danger.

Either way, Hartpury were clearly the more dangerous of the teams. And, shortly after a McGregor shot was palmed away, the first goal that had appeared inevitable arrived.

It came in first half stoppage time as Salter swung in another dangerous corner which an unmarked Roney met with a powerful header that he planted into the bottom corner.

Despite conceding, Bassett wouldn't have felt out of the game going into half time - and the hosts had an initial bright burst when play resumed, Tommy Ouldridge forcing Sarkodie into a diving save inside two minutes of the restart.

But Hartpury quickly doubled their lead as they again exposed Bassett with a set piece. A sloppy spill from Foster saw him turn a Louis Manning shot around the post when the 'keeper should really have held on. Salter swung in the resulting corner and Roney was there at the far post to guide it over the line from six yards out.

Two goals to the good and with the contest panning out the way it was, that was as good as game, set and match.

Bassett had no response as Hartpury, while not hitting top gear, continued to threaten.

Their third eventually arrived with eighteen minutes to play. Substitute Tomas Shyamapant comfortably beat the offside trap to race onto Manning through ball played into the right channel. Racing in behind, he unselfishly squared to Salter who, with Foster drawn off his line, had the simplest of finishes into an empty net.

Bassett rung the changes with Chalmers Phin - recently signed from Malmesbury Victoria, Ollie Pitt and Tom Moore all brought on to try and inject some form of attacking spark.

Hartpury began to ease off the gas and Bassett did have a few decent forays forward - with Phin and youngster Finn Hopkins showing some nice touches.

But there was to be no consolation. Instead Bassett were fortunate not to fall further behind.

Kian Kang saw an effort that deflected off Ollie Case loop inches over, while Shyamapant somehow contrived to head straight at Foster from a couple of yards out when he had the goal at his mercy. Salter then almost saw a third corner lead to a goal, but the luckless Jenkins saw Foster tip his shot over.

The final whistle ultimately arrived without any further damage being done to the scoreline.

That came as some relief on a forgettable afternoon on the pitch as Bassett slipped to a fifth league defeat of the young season - and their third by a margin of at least three goals.

Player of the Match: Finn Hopkins - showed some nice touches and was Bassett's biggest threat (albeit a muted one) going forward. Indeed, his play forced the early withdrawal of Hartpury right back Leon Machisa who was walking a tight rope after a first half booking.