A SPECTACULAR opening goal by Tytherington Rocks goalkeeper Rob Dent couldn’t stop them slipping to defeat at Wootton Bassett Town.

With only seven minutes gone, a gigantic kick by Dent from the edge of his penalty box, went speeding through the middle of the Bassett defence and then the ball lifted over the arms of opposite number Stewart Thompson, to bounce in the empty net.

After the match, Dent said: “That was my first league goal. When I kicked the ball downfield I was looking to find James Hicks. But the swirling wind helped the direction and I couldn’t believe it when the ball went in after going 80 yards!” On 19 minutes an opportunist 20-yard shot from Nick Ackland went inches wide of the Bassett far post.

The hosts were level almost immediately when a cross from Steve Groom was headed home by the diving Andy Philpott from ten yards.

Bassett won the encounter by scoring three goals in a storming finale.

After 74 minutes Terry Adams ploughed forward, his shot was parried by Dent but Philpott, on loan from Swindon Supermarine , was on hand to get his second goal of the match.

The game was finished two minutes later with a stunning goal from Sam Collier, who completed a mazy run over to put the ball into the far corner.

Tytherington were despondent in the gluepot conditions and Bassett seized the initiative with their fourth goal in the dying moments, when Collier scored his second goal from close range..

Dent added :“I would let my goal go if we could have a point today. We let our heads go down after their second goal but 4-1 was flattering to them.”

On a terrible afternoon the news came through that the reserves were beaten 8-1.

On Saturday the Rocks, now tenth in the league, are away to Trowbridge, 2.15pm.