WOOTTON Bassett boss Dave Turner was delighted with his side’s performance despite only beating struggling Letcombe 3-2 in Division One West.

Turner’s men got off to a flying start when Liam Edmonson nodded home a corner at the second time of asking.

Mark Barnes should have extended Bassett’s lead but he dragged his shot wide from 15 yards out.

Letcombe then punished the home side for the miss when Adam Bruce scrambled home a chance from a free-kick.

Normal service was resumed for Bassett on the half-hour mark as Barnes found a yard of space to fire home his fourth goal in two games.

On 53 minutes Steve Yeardley made it 3-1 to give Bassett some breathing space against a battling Letcombe side.

Bassett continued to miss chances or be frustrated by an inspired Ben Stone in the Letcombe goal.

And Letcombe’s persistence paid dividends with three minutes to go when Tom Stone tapped home a rebound from Bruce’s shot.

Bassett, though, held on for all three points with Turner claiming their winning margin should have been greater.

“It was a funny old game really,” said Turner. “If you weren’t at the game you just look at the scoreline and it looks like a close game.

“But it wasn’t like that. We were 3-1 up with three minutes to go and then they nick one. It was a little nervy but on the whole we were comfortable throughout the game.

“We missed a lot of chances and Letcombe have defended well to be fair to them.

“They put their bodies on the line and their keeper has made some good saves.

“On another day we would win easily but I’m delighted with the overall performance.

“The result keeps us up there and that is the main thing.”

Bassett are now six points off leaders Brimscombe & Thrupp with two games in hand.

Fairford Town are still hot on the heels of Bassett in third place after their 2-1 win at home to North Leigh Reserves.

The Cinder Lane outfit had to wait until the 80th minute to clinch victory, with Callum Parsons hitting the winner.

Paul Braithwaite’s men took the lead on 43 minutes courtesy of Dan Bailey’s strike. But they were pegged back by North Leigh on 67 minutes when Jozef Fullerton netted before Parsons nicked the points for Fairford.

Cricklade’s surge towards the leaders was halted away at Hook Norton despite grabbing an equalising goal with nine minutes remaining.

Graham Jackson’s men were 2-0 down on 50 minutes before Ryan Thomas got them back into the match on the hour.

Ben Carter pulled Crick level on 81 minutes only for the visitors to concede with four minutes left.

New College drew 2-2 at home to Lambourn Sports thanks to goals from Jeremy Newton and Josh Skeates. Lambourn’s goals came courtesy of a double from Matt Pedder.

Elsewhere, Max Sparrow scored Malmesbury’s only goal in their 3-1 defeat at Old Woodstock Town.