WOOTTON Bassett maintained top spot in the Davis Wood Hockey League Avon Division with a 3-0 win over third-placed Shepton Mallett on Saturday.

The visitors started brightly and won a series of short corners, with Bassett goalkeeper Paul Warren called into action on several occasions.

As the half wore on the hosts began to exert their authority, and after Ali Wood’s drag flick from a short corner was saved by the Shepton goalkeeper, Wood struck home the loose ball.

Moments later Mark Skivington and Mark Tolley combined to set up Matt Daniell, whose effort bounced off the post and into the path of Kristian Mansfield, who doubled the advantage.

Bassett retained control in the second half and Si Griffiths blasted home from another set play to round off the scoring.

  • IN WILTS & NE Somerset Division One, Bassett 2nds won 2-0 at City of Bath B.

A Grant Kirkup pass found Martyn Chivers for Bassett’s first, before Lawrence Winter tapped in Rob Appleby’s diving effort.

  • TWO late University of Exeter B goals condemned Swindon to a 4-2 home defeat in Premier Division 2 on Saturday.

The hosts took the lead early on when Andy McGregor fired home from close range, before the same man struck the frame of the goal later in the half.

With 15 minutes remaining of the second period, Exeter drew level and then went ahead almost straight from the restart.

Swindon persevered and after Tom Lentschner’s shot was saved by the goalkeeper, McGregor poached his second of the afternoon.

The hosts went in search of a winner, but Exeter took advantage of the gaps that opened up to steal two late goals.

“Despite the result, this was a good performance against one of the better sides in the league,” said Swindon manager Johnny Ashby.

“Once again we need to take this level of effort and performance into next week’s game.”

  • CIRENCESTER suffered two defeats over the weekend, going down 3-1 to Old Bristolians in North Division 1, before losing 4-0 to Hereford in the third round of the EHA Trophy.
  • SWINDON Ladies scored two second-half goals to salvage a 2-2 draw at home to Plymouth Marjon Ladies in Premier Division 1.

Two well-worked goals in the first 30 minutes gave Plymouth the half-time lead and agile goalkeeping from Sarah Anstey ensured the advantage was not larger.

Soon after the break, Swindon’s Becky Clarke stole the ball in midfield and passed it to Vicky Whitmore, who played a one-two with Gemma Richards before sliding into the net.

And the hosts drew level with 10 minutes left when a penalty corner was confidently slotted home by Vicky Stokes.