WOOTTON Bassett men protected their 100 per cent record in East Central 1 at Wotton-under-Edge with Kyle Barnes scoring twice in a 4-0 win.

Previously unbeaten at home, Wotton-under-Edge dominated possession early on, switching the ball through the back line and midfield.

But the visitors’ resilience at the back meant they only allowed a handful of half-chances in the first period, and Bassett took the lead when Matt Daniell found Jack Twine sliding in at the back post.

After the break Bassett were twice reduced to 10 men but added a second when a rebound fell to captain Kristian Mansfield.

Barnes then took over the game, adding the third and fourth with brilliantly-taken solo efforts in the closing stages of the match.

Bassett face Chippenham away on Saturday before 24 hours later they aim to make the quarter-finals of the England Hockey Men’s Vase for the first time, when they host Camberley & Farnborough.

A brace from Jack Wiltshire gave Bassett B a 4-0 at West Wiltshire E, while Nick Thomson and Neil Saunders added further efforts. Milind Thapa was man of the match.

Swindon twice took the lead against fellow Championship strugglers Westbury but had to settle for a 2-2 draw.

At full strength, hosts Swindon started brightly and creative play from Chris Parsons and Lewis Dyer resulted in early opportunities being carved out.

Twenty minutes in, the Isambard side took the lead. Defender Tom Wickens cut through the midfield with a darting run and his pass found Henry Cheney, who smashed past the helpless keeper.

However, the one-goal advantage did not last long as Westbury drew level on the stroke of half-time.

Beginning brightly after the restart, Swindon once again nudged in front when a quick break resulted in Lewis Dyer slipping the ball under the keeper to record his first league goal for the club.

But the lead was swiftly wiped out when Westbury grabbed their second goal against the run of play, and that was how it stayed until the final whistle.

  • CAPTAIN Vicky Stokes notched a brace as Swindon ladies delivered a quality display to defeat Premier Division 2A promotion hopefuls Salisbury 4-2.

Overcoming a six-place gap in league position, Swindon showed there was little gulf in ability between the teams.

Early pressure from the hosts paid off when Adriana Boullosa squared the ball to player of the match Rachel King, who fired home from close range at the far post.

Swindon continued to dominate long periods of the game and crafted a well-deserved second in similar fashion to the first.

Sharp interplay between Gael Little and Gemma Scrase released Adriana Boullosa, who beat the Salisbury keeper from close range.

However, the visitors began to show more aggression and they pulled themselves back into the game with a goal four minutes before the break.

Salisbury began the second half pressing for an equaliser, but it was their opponents who were able to stretch their advantage.

Swindon broke quickly and Chloe Lewis forced a short corner that resulted in Stokes calmly slotting home to make it 3-1.

The visitors pulled it back to 3-2 but Swindon dug deep and Nicci Foster-Kenyon fed Boullosa who found Stokes, and the skipper rounded the keeper and tapped home.

A serious injury to Foster-Kenyon forced her to leave the game, but Swindon withstood late pressure and are now within three points of fourth place.

Stokes said: “The team must continue to focus on training and our systems of play. One game does not make a season.”

Wootton Bassett ladies lost 3-0 to third-placed Lansdown in North Division as three second-half goals ended what had previously been a close contest.

Bassett produced some lovely offence in a scoreless first half, with player of the match Rebekah Taylor cutting through the defence on a few occasions.

But it was Lansdown who took the game by the scruff of the neck when they scored through a well-worked short corner and they added a second soon after.

Emma Collison and Ceri Burgess went close before Lansdown made the game safe through a short corner.

Wootton Bassett ladies A beat Melksham A 6-0 to retain top spot in Wessex Division 2.

Abi Iles and Kelly Lusted bagged braces and Sue Lee and Rhiannon Turner got a goal each. Players of the match were Iles and Tracy Fieldsend.

  • SWINDON Under 12s continued their unbeaten start to the season at the Gloucestershire Hockey Association Festival.

With two teams at the Cheltenham event, Swindon’s players took their attacking and exciting brand of hockey into each game.

Both teams played Dursley, Gloucester, Cheltenham A and Cheltenham B, with Swindon A winning three and drawing one.

Swindon B won all their matches and did not concede a goal.