ROYAL Wootton Bassett Town manager Rich Hunter could not fault his players after they went into Saturday’s home defeat with Lydney Town without a goalkeeper.

With back-up stopper Richard Lancaster away for New Year’s Eve, Bassett were then dealt a blow when regular keeper Curtis Meare was struck down by a cold virus which has swept through the club.

That left boss Hunter scrambling around for volunteers to pick up the gloves and fill the void and the Bassett chief did not have to look beyond 17-year-old George Lance.

However, despite the enthusiasm of youth, Town could not prevent the Severnsiders from returning to Gloucestershire with a 3-1 success in Hellenic League Premier Division.

“We knew we were always going to be up against it as we didn’t have a keeper,” Hunter said. “There has been an illness bug going through the club and on Saturday morning Curtis Meare called me to say he couldn’t play.

“Our back-up keeper was away for new year so George Lance came in and did a job.

“He’s only 17 and has come up from our reserves and sits on the bench every now and then.

“He sometimes goes in goal in training so he was more than happy to give it a go.

“I can’t fault the effort that lads put in, the one thing I said before the game was to try and limit the number of shots that they have – unfortunately we weren’t able to do that.”

Lydney went in at the break 1-0 to the good thanks to a strike from Declan Morley-Lyne before former Cheltenham Town striker Pete Macklin netted a second-half double.

Nathan Hawkins came off the bench for Bassett to bag a late goal but it was little more than a consolation effort.

Highworth Town also waved goodbye to 2016 in defeat as they suffered a 2-1 home reverse at the hands of Tuffley Rovers.

The Gloucester-based side took a 2-0 lead into the break with Jon Davoile pulling a goal back in the second half.