HELLENIC LEAGUE: Turner takes it easy on beaten Bassett

6:00am Monday 15th April 2013

By Andy Warren

WOOTTON Bassett manager Dave Turner refused to criticise his players despite their 3-0 defeat to Lydney, in a game he dubbed as the ‘last proper match at Rylands Way.’ Bassett secured promotion back to the Hellenic Premier last weekend with victory over Lambourn Sports, but Turner wanted to put on a show in what was the final Saturday 3pm game before the club make the move away from their spiritual home.

However two goals from Jared Liddington and one from James Morse ensured Bassett were well beaten in difficult conditions, but despite admitting he was not happy with the display Turner couldn’t say a bad word about the players who have performed superbly for him all season.

“I’m not happy with the way we sent the ground off, but I can’t fault any of my players because they have been magnificent all season and have given so much,” he said.

“I said to them afterwards I wasn’t even going to think about the result because it was a funny game, and there are no complaints.

“They had four shots all game and scored three goals and we had one shot and scored no goals, and although conditions didn’t help they played them a lot better than we did.

The Bassett squad enjoyed a few celebratory drinks together after the game, and while Turner didn’t expect it to play a part in the match itself, he admitted his players may have relaxed too much having already secured promotion.

“We met up for a few beers after the game, and I reckon the anticipation of that meant it was a bit of an after the Lord Mayor’s show scenario in the end,” he said.

“If we had needed points I am sure we would have played an awful lot better, but there is no way I can be critical because they have been superb.

“I didn’t expect it and I thought we would come out and relax and play well, but the pitch didn’t allow it because it was very boggy.”

Despite the disappointment Turner admitted it would take an awful lot more than one defeat to dampen the good feeling around the club following a season where they also progressed further in the FA Cup than ever before.

“It’s a happy place and we have done the hard work, and when they have needed to step up they have done that every single time,” he said.

“You can perhaps forgive them for taking a foot off the gas, and I will never criticise them.

“There is no shame in losing because it was only our fifth loss in 28 games, so it hasn’t been a bad season at all really.”

Elsewhere in the division, New College went down 4-1 to Cricklade on Friday evening as Ben Carter and Jack Allan both scored braces to secure the win for the home side.

In the Hellenic Premier, Shrivenham’s miserable run continued as they lost 4-1 at home to Newbury.