HAVING been the villain of the piece last week, Paul Bass was the hero on Saturday for Godmanchester Rovers, helping himself to four goals in a big win over Long Melford.

Ridgeons Division One

Godmanchester Rovers 5 Long Melford 1

HAVING been the villain of the piece last week, Paul Bass was the hero on Saturday for Godmanchester Rovers, helping himself to four goals in a big win over Long Melford.

Bass’s four-goal salvo earned a rave review from his manager David Hurst, and was a far cry from last Saturday at Fakenham when he missed a penalty, hit the woodwork and wasted a host of glorious chances.

Hurst said: “We played really well as a team but Paul Bass was a class above everyone else.

“I said he should’ve had five last week and this week he was absolutely brilliant and, in a captain’s role, led by example.”

Bass got his opener on 35 minutes as Goddy took a slender 1-0 lead into the break before he doubled their lead - and his tally - just past the hour.

Handball inside the box by a Melford defender shortly afterwards resulted in a red card and presented Bass with a chance to complete his hat-trick, from the penalty spot, and this week he made no mistake.

The visitors got one back on 75 minutes but a comeback was never on the cards, as a fourth goal from Bass and one from the impressive James Hall rounded off a fine afternoon for Rovers.

It was only Goddy’s second win in ten league matches this season and their first since August.

They currently sit 12th in the table but will be looking to take six points from their next two fixtures, at second-bottom Halstead Town on Saturday before hosting basement boys Cornard United the following weekend.

• Godmanchester’s participation in the Cambs Invitation Cup came to an end at the preliminary round stage following their 3-2 defeat against Great Shelford last Tuesday. Three down at the interval, a makeshift Rovers outfit got two goals back in the second half, through Nick Hurst and James Hall, but it wasn’t enough.