Baston recorded the double over Heckington in their latest midweek clash, but not without making it hard for themselves. They welcomed back defensive leader Liam Davies, and dainty winger Jon Howard.
Baston started brightly and would have taken an early lead through a fine 25 yard Craig Bullivant strike, but for the flag of the referee’s assistant. Baston took the lead after 20 minutes when Ross O’Loughlin’s 30 yard free-kick beat the keeper and curled inside the back post, despite a late deflection.
Baston continued to grow, Sam Baines cutting in from the right and squaring to Ross O’Loughlin who smashed the ball past the keeper from outside the box. Baston could have been 3-0 up but Ben Hudson could only head Jon Howard’s pinpoint cross onto the bar.
Baston grabbed a third shortly before half time, Craig Bullivant releasing Ben Hudson just inside the area, who slotted the ball past the keeper.
Baston had a few early chances to add to their lead after the break; Jon Howard first coming in from the left wing and firing his shot just over the bar. Matt Medler’s drive from outside the area was cushioned just past the post by Hudson’s reaction header. O’Loughlin then played a perfectly weighted ball through for Craig Bullivant but he put his lob just wide of the post.
Baston scored their fourth on the hour mark, as Ben Hudson collected the ball outside the area, drove past his marker but saw his left foot shot saved by the keeper, only for the rebound to hit the Heckington defender and roll over the line.
It was a fair score line, but then Heckington started to get the rub of the green as they scored 3 in quick succession. Firstly a header from a corner, that Simon Ward couldn’t adjust his feet to clear on the line, and then a dubious foul in midfield led to their striker lifting the ball over Rob Clarke for 4-2, before Liam Davies’s headed pass back was intercepted by the same striker who nodded home.
Heckington easily could have levelled it during this period of pressure but for a stunning last ditch block on the line by Matt Medler to keep Baston in front.
Baston finally made sure the points were safe with 15 minutes left on the clock. The referee awarded a penalty as a Heckington defender was deemed to have pushed Ben Hudson in the box. Ross O’Loughlin stepped up, converted the spot kick and bagged his hat trick.
Baston held on for the win, but had further chances to reflect their dominance on the game; O’Loughlin’s clever free-kick found Medler on the edge of the area but he mistimed his shot, Hudson’s cutback found Bullivant but he also couldn’t test the keeper, before Jon Howard skewed a late effort wide of the post.
Man of the Match: Ross O’Loughlin
Baston: Clarke, Couzens, Bedford (c), Davies, Medler, Baines, Ward, O’Loughlin, Howard, Hudson, Bullivant
