HIGHMOOR Ibis were beaten 3-2 in a five-goal thriller as Royal Wootton Bassett took all three points from their Hellenic League Premier Division encounter on Saturday.

Anthony White had an early effort cleared off the line, but it was the visitors who took the lead on nine minutes when the in-form Jamie Piercy was able to pick out the bottom left corner with a precise finish from the right edge of the area.

However, Bassett were on level terms midway through the half, Dale Richards finding the net.

Bassett had the better of the remainder of the half, but the inspired Saxty kept the scores level until the break.

Things became harder for Higmoor when they lost Alex Dumbaya early in the second half, the defender denying Richards a goalscoring opportunity and seeing red.

Yet they responded and Mitchell Parker was set free in behind the Bassett backline by Harry Grant’s pass on 53 minutes, only to drag his effort from the edge of the area wide.

Moments later, another ball over the top caught out the home defence and Parker squared to White, who narrowly struck over from 18 yards.

At the other end, Saxty continued to frustrate Bassett with a couple more fine saves, while Marcus Richardson had an effort cleared off the line after the Ibis player-manager came off the bench.

White hit the side-netting when he could have scored, and that proved costly as Bassett struck the decisive blow with six minutes remaining.

A slick counter-attack ended with Richards finding Steve Robertson, and his cool finish put the hosts 2-1 up.

Four minutes later the points were all but secured when Harry Spalding steered a shot home, and although Richardson used a fine piece of footwork to escape the attention of two defenders before sweeping into the bottom corner, Highmoor could not find an equaliser.

Marcus Richardson's men also lost 4-0 at Flackwell Heath in the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy on Tuesday.

Highmoor Ibis host Longlevens in the league on Saturday (3pm), and Ascot United next Tuesday (7.45pm).