Star striker Lee Bassett shocks Eynesbury Rovers with retirement - but boss acts swiftly to draft in new attacking ace
Lee Bassett has called time on his Eynesbury Rovers career. - Credit: Archant
New Eynesbury Rovers boss Dave Northfield has revealed that leading scorer Lee Bassett has retired.
Bassett, who has scored 165 goals during a long association with the Hall Road outfit, notified Northfield of his decision to call time on his career ahead of the club’s 2-2 draw at Desborough in the United Counties League Premier Division last Saturday.
But the new manager, now in permanent charge after an initial temporary stint, has already drafted in a ready-made attacking replacement with former St Neots Town frontman Ebey Marango making his debut in that Desborough deadlock.
Northfield said: “Lee told me he has not been enjoying his football and has decided to retire.
“He said he had been persuaded to keep playing in the summer, but has now decided to call it a day.
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“I can only go on his word, but Ebey came in to replace him and was superb. He hadn’t played for a month until having a run out for our Under 21s the previous weekend.
“He is still rusty, but did very well all things considered.”
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Marango was one of three Rovers debutants at Desborough.
Northfield also called up his son Lee, a midfielder, and left-back Liam Beech from the club’s Under 21 side.
They fell behind midway through the first half, but Matty Bannister levelled nine minutes after the restart.
James Ducket then headed Eynesbury ahead with just his third goal in more than 150 appearances, but they were pegged back by a late equaliser to remain in the Premier Division bottom six.
Rovers had been beaten by a solitary goal at second-bottom Wellingborough last Tuesday.
They now travel to another struggling side, Oadby Town, this Saturday before hosting unbeaten AFC Kempston Rovers in a KO Cup tie on Tuesday.
