Despite the final score being a 6 - 0 reverse it wasn't all doom and gloom at Ballards Ash. This was a game for trying players in new positions and introducing players from the large squad at the Managers disposal. The starting formation was much changed from the recent setup with no Ben Curtis due to illness, Harry Fitzwilliams, Brett Carr and Brett Embling on the bench and a totally rearranged attack and midfield. From the outset it was clear that the game would be tough but the new boys fought and battled and managed to hold Highworth for long stretches of the first half. The big problem was the ball knocked through or over the defence. On three or four occasions Wootton Bassett struggled to turn and twice Highworth scored with good shots, giving George Barker, the Bassett goalkeeper, no chance. With the score at 2 - 0 Wootton Bassett managed to wrestle control of the game and created several good opportunities. The impressive Jonathan Coniglio was always a thorn in the Highworth right backs side, his crosses caused the visitors to hack the ball clear and if Bassett had of reacted to the secondary ball earlier they would surly have got back into the game. Indeed shots from Chris Edwards and Tom Deane tested the solid looking Highworth keeper. Harry Fitzwilliams was introduced with 10 minutes to half time and this reinforced the Bassett dominance.

After the break Terry brought on Brett Carr and we all thought that this would up the tempo and get us the goals we needed, but as has happened to us before we were caught cold and 3 minutes into the 2nd half it was 3 - 0. This sparked a revival which saw Jonathan Coniglio hit his shot straight at the keeper from 6 yards out, a sure sign that it wasn't going to be our day. Bassett continued to push on but poor positional play coupled with a lack of physical presence allowed Highworth to score 3 more in the final 8 minutes. Wootton Bassett do have the players to defeat teams such as Highworth. The plan must now be to select a first team squad of say 15 or 16 and pick the strongest 11 from this group. A tough lesson but one that has to be learned.

Credit: Unknown
Last modified on Monday 23rd November 2020 at 20:54