AFTER going further than ever before in last year’s FA Vase, Wootton Bassett Town reverted to type, crashing out at the first attempt, as they lost 3-2 at home against Wessex League outfit Hamble ASSC, writes STUART SMEDLEY.

Three defensive errors proved costly for Dave Turner’s side, with the game being decided in the dying stages.

Jamie Musslewhite seized upon a poor 87th-minute clearance, playing a through ball to the dangerous Richard Gregory, who rounded Stewart Thompson before tapping in.

Bassett had earlier taken the lead, albeit arguably against the run of play when Adam Field lobbed the onrushing John Webb following an Alex Green flick on.

The lead failed to last long though. After failing to clear their lines twice, the ball eventually popped up to an unmarked Musslewhite, and he headed the ball into an unguarded net.

Then, just after the half hour mark, Chris Oram got the wrong side of his man, and in a desperate attempt to prevent Musslewhite adding a second he handled inside the area, the penalty being comfortably dispatched by James Roden.

Following the break, an acrobatic save from Thompson denied Gregory after he had again got in behind the defence.

Taking advantage of this let off, a moment of inspiration from James Turner set up Frankie Hunt’s coolly taken equaliser.

However, the visitors ensured extra time was not to be required, taking advantage of Bassett being down to nine men thanks to late injuries to Hunt and Jon Holloway.