Town steps in to curry favour with Bash (From Bournemouth Echo)

Town steps in to curry favour with Bash

7:13pm Sunday 14th March 2010 in

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PROMOTION-chasing Bash continued to hold the Indian sign over Diddy – thanks largely to curry connoisseur Dave Town.

The former Cherries striker came out of retirement to lend a helping hand after deciding to hang up his boots five months ago.

He got the call at the 11th hour on Friday night – as he was preparing to tuck into his favourite dish at the Starlight Restaurant on Bargates in Christchurch.

“I might have to get back on a pasta diet now,” laughed Town, after his sumptuous through ball had set up Mark Gamble’s late leveller at the tidy Loop Meadow Stadium.

“Chris Ferrett (Bash player-coach) phoned and asked if I could help out because they were short. I was only too happy to come along.”

He added: “I knocked it on the head a few months ago. I have been trying to keep fit by going to spinning classes but have still got the bug. It was nice to be involved again. Saturdays are made for football.”

Town, who progressed through the ranks at Dean Court before going on to Rushden & Diamonds and Boston United, sprinkled his magic dust on Bash after coming off the bench on the hour. Having squandered a presentable chance to score with his first touch, Town atoned when he landed a defence-splitting pass at the feet of fellow sub Max Cream.

And after he had induced an error from Diddy goalkeeper Matt Trott, Gamble was on hand to fire into an empty net, his 17th goal of the season doubling as a get-out-of-jail-free card for the depleted visitors.

Diddy, beaten three times by Bash since joining the Southern League in 2006, had looked destined to break their duck after creating a series of chances to add to James Mortimer-Jones’s headed ninth-minute opener.

Michael Bartley, the older brother of Cherries star Marvin Bartley, was a constant threat and the hosts were convinced his thumping header midway through the second half had crossed the line after it had come down off the underside of the bar. The officials disagreed.

Trott’s point-blank save from Joe Maxwell’s 35th-minute header denied Bash, while David Elm also had to be at his best to prevent Phil John from doubling Diddy’s lead when he tipped the striker’s venomous effort over the crossbar after the break.

But with their proud 12-match unbeaten away league record hanging by a thread, Bash – who have clocked up almost 3,000 miles since losing for the only time on the opening day of the season at Merthyr Tydfil – ensured it would extend to a rather lucky 13th.

“You could say it was a fortuitous point,” said Town. “They had one which probably crossed the line and were the better side for long periods.

“That’s when you’ve really got to dig deep though and is one of the reasons why Bashley are second in the table. There was a never-say-die attitude and everybody kept going until the end.”

Bash boss Steve Riley added: “It was a bit of a smash and grab to be honest and we rode our luck at times. Didcot will be disappointed but I think the balance of luck evens out over the course of the season.

“On the back of two home wins, it was a hard-earned away point for us and seven points from nine is a good return so I am chuffed to bits.”

Bashley: Elm, Smith, Ferrett, Middleton, Gazzard, Knowles (Cream, 67), Kelly, Mason (Town, 60), Maxwell, Gamble, Knight. Unused subs: Mead, Riley, Prodomo (g/k). Attendance: 170.