IT'S been an eventful week for Wootton Bassett even though the club failed to complete any Hellenic League fixtures.
Last Saturday's Premier Division trip to high-riding Bishops Cleeve was rained off and the midweek trek to Carterton was abandoned at half-time because of floodlight failure. But that doesn't tell the full story.
The lights were already stuttering at one end prior to the game but the referee decided to start the fixture after some maintenance work despite protests led by Bassett manager Chris Jones.
He said: "The referee was happy to play with three lights but before the game kicked off I asked him to put in his notes we were playing under protest."
Defending the problem area in the first half, Bassett trailed 2-0 at the break and had goalkeeper Ian Gill sent off for an over-vociferous protest. The referee called both managers together at half-time and decided to call the fixture off much to the displeasure of Carterton, while Jones remained adamant it shouldn't even have started.
"I do sympathise with Carterton," said Jones. "The referee decided to start the game and he decided to abandon it."
The league have asked Bassett officials to put together their own reports into the evening's events as they look into the debacle.
Bassett now go to North Leigh in fine fettle despite trailing in the game-that-never-was.
"For 30 minutes in that first half we probably played the best football I've seen from Bassett in a long time," added Jones.
"North Leigh are an experienced side but it will be interesting to see how they cope with the pace of our young lads."
Bassett head off with a full contingent bar Matty Bennett, pictured, who is on county duty.
Hit-and-miss Fairford should find their better form against a Pewsey Vale side that have collected just a point in 2005.
The Cinder Lane side were impressive in their 3-0 win over Hungerford last weekend but followed that with a 2-0 mid-week defeat at Abingdon.
The Fairford squad is in good enough shape, with Gareth Davies the only likely absentee.
Matty Goodwin should return after shaking off an ankle complaint.
Shrivenham must beat guests Winterbourne to re-ignite their Division One West title hopes.
Three defeats from their last four league fixtures has seen Alan Dyton's team slip to fifth.
They are now eight points behind leaders Tytherington with three games in hand but more alarmingly, five points behind Trowbridge having played the same number of fixtures.
The poor run has been compounded by disciplinary problems which Dyton is keen to stamp out.
He said: "We have had a disastrous month.
"Having five players sent off has obviously not helped, so our discipline must improve. Tempers cannot be allowed to interfere with our footballing performances.
"I am still confident that we are good enough to be there at the end of the season."
Mark Stevens (work commitments) and Steven Winchcombe (ankle) will not play, but Nathan White returns from holiday and Richard Tilling has recovered from a back problem.
Cirencester United welcome Adderbury to the Corinium.
Ben Potter is off to Madrid for his stag celebrations and he's taking Dave Reeves, Martin Richens and Saul Ricketts with him. Ian Probert is also out with his ongoing hamstring complaint.
Graham Robinson and Aiden Winney are set for a recall and the manager will call on his nephew Gary Probert, who is at university in Cardiff.
Elsewhere in the Division, Purton host Clanfield and Malmesbury tackle Kidlington.
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