WOOTTON Bassett paid the price for a poor first half in their penultimate game of the season.

A late fightback saw Jeff Roberts’ side come up short, eventually losing 4-3 to Kidlington having been 3-1 down at half-time.

Bassett conceded two goals early in the first half, Tommy Castle and Danny Mason scoring for the visitors. Adam Corcoran did pull one back for The Corinium-based team but Tommy Boxer finished a well-worked move to give Kildington a 3-1 lead at the break.

Bassett showed more purpose in the early running of the second period, having a goal ruled out for offside before Levi Cox netted to provide some hope the home crowd.

This expectation was swiftly dented by Boxer, who got his second and Kidlington’s fourth with a diving header.

Cox did get another to make the last 15 minutes interesting but Bassett could not find an equaliser.

Assistant coach Anthony Brown thought the result was disappointing though Bassett’s performance in the second half was a positive.

“It wasn’t the best result, we gave away four goals, but in second-half we showed a bit of spirit and character,” said Brown.

Brown and other the coaching staff got into the team at the break, putting Bassett on the path to an improved showing in the second 45.

“We spoke to them at half-time, we said we’re not happy with first half performance. Their goals were unexpected, the first came from a free kick, the second a long ball and the third a few weak challenges let their lad in.

“We went through the areas we felt we hadn’t defended well. In the second half we put that together. Though to be fair in the first half we restricted them to limited opportunities, we still made their keeper pull off a couple of saves but when you score three goals at home you don’t expect to lose the game.”

Brown thought ultimately the visitors’ clinical touch in front of goal was why they took the points.

“If you take your chances, that was the difference, all four goals we were disappointed with but they scored, even though there wasn’t any quality in them, it just wasn’t our day to get something from it.”

Bassett’s final game of the season is at Brimscombe & Thrupp, the side that overcame Roberts’ side the Bluefin Supplementary Cup semi-final a couple of weeks ago.