WOOTTON Bassett Town chief Dave Turner acclaimed his side’s Boxing Day morning triumph at local rivals Purton as “a very important win.’’

Bassett kept up their pursuit of inactive Hellenic League Division One West leaders Brimscombe & Thrupp as Steve Yeardley and Matt Bennett struck in each half.

The triumph left them three points off top spot with a game in hand and Turner, who had Rich Saunders sent off late on and saw Jamie McGahey pull one back, said: “That was so important for us.

“Brimscombe weren’t playing and if we had any aspirations of chasing them down, we had to win this game.

“It would have been soul-destroying not to. As it happens, now perhaps we’ve put a little bit of pressure on them.

Yeardley gave Bassett the ideal start, the midfielder following up on a rebound after Saunders’ shot had been saved after just 17 seconds.

Bennett added the secnd – his first goal of the season on 70 minutes.

Calne Town’s plum Boxing Day derby with local rivals Corsham Town was abandoned just before half time at Bremhill View yesterday.

The teams were locked at 0-0, Calne having gone close with a free-kick from Greg Tindle pushed behind by goalkeeper Scott Windle pushing it behind for a corner, when proceedings were brought to a halt by a heavy downpour in the 43rd minute.

The match was abandoned shortly afterwards.

Elsewhere, the weather again badly affected the Boxing Day fixture list, following Saturday’s wipeout of fixtures.

Games involving Devizes Town and Melksham Town in the Toolstation Western League and Malmesbury Victoria in Hellenic League Division One West were postponed.

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