5 ‒ 1 |
The Meadowbank Ground, 21st September 2002
Bassett Town failed to impress in a disappointing performance against Hellenic League rivals Shortwood United in an FA Vase qualifying match. Bassett's season seems to be going topsy-turvy as they have lost four games out of nine this season.
Bassett started this match with a nearly full strength squad. Shortwood were, however, the team who came out on top in the first quarter of an hour as they produced three decent chances; Bassett only creating one when Nick Tooley overhead kicked a Luke Sharps kick in the first minute. Shortwood were the team who took the lead when, in the 35th minute, their captain slotted home after good build up play. Bassett went looking for an equaliser and that came just before the break when Nick Tooley flicked the ball over Shortwood 'keeper Ryan Gannaway's head. Bassett went into the break with a solid first half performance behind them and a goal to go with it.
Bassett came out looking for another goal to put themselves in front. They nearly got that one minute into the second half when Mark Simpkins just missed from a good Nick Tooley ball. Shortwood started to put on the pressure when they missed two chances from dead ball situations. Bassett then made a change in the 58th minute bringing Neil Bridges on for Paul Garbutt. Shortwood continued applying the pressure but in the 61st minute Mark Hammond took the ball from inside his own half and ran to the opposition byline and crossed a ball in for Neil Bridges, who missed when it would have been easier to score. Bassett went a goal behind in the 73rd minute when another defensive error allowed Shortwood to head the ball in just after Bassett had made a tactical move to introduce an extra attacker into the game for a defender. Still Shortwood continued to attack and they got their third, a stunning goal, from their number 11. Shortwood could have made it four just after the kick off when Paul Patel blocked a shot which surely would otherwise have gone in. Nathan Hall had a good chance to get Bassett back into the game when his shot was saved after good work by him and Stu Hemsley. Shortwood countered and in the same minute scored their fourth. Shortwood, who had clearly won the game by this time, made a triple substitution in the 87th minute. Just after the changes Shortwood made it five in the dying minutes when a great ball split the Bassett defence and the Shortwood number 10 grabbed a goal. Stu Lamont could have got Bassett a consolation goal but wasted a chance hitting wide. Shortwood could also have grabbed another goal in injury time. Bassett had bombed out of the Vase at the first hurdle against a team at about the same standard as them.
Manager's Man of the Match – Nathan Hall for not giving up.
Scoop Rating: 5/10 – A poor defensive display. Bassett's only players who looked as though they were in the game were Nathan Hall, Mark Hammond and Nick Tooley.
Last modified on Monday 22nd June 2015 at 23:38