Despite a windswept, boggy pitch at Ballards Ash, both teams managed to produce a very entertaining match with the result in doubt right up to the end. Playing into the wind in the first half, Bassett found themselves pinned back in their own half for long periods but despite this, Joe Brennan in goal was very rarely troubled. Indeed it was the home team who had the best chance of the opening 20 minutes when from a cross, Ross Barbers bullet header was well held by the keeper. With Bassett clawing their way back into the game it was then that the home defence was caught square and Marlborough's nippy forward was through to score the opening goal. Further bad luck was to follow inside 5 minutes when a clearance from defence hit a Bassett player and the ball fell straight at the feet of a Marlborough player who couldn't miss. To end the first half 2-0 down was not a true picture of the game so far.

With the wind at their backs and a second half reorganisation, the home side exerted pressure of their own and came close on a number of occasions. With 10 minutes gone a through ball from a hard working Tom James sent Zhenia Fogel clear to slot the ball home after rounding the keeper. Bassett now had the upper hand and scored again when Sean Leeke collected the ball from in front of his defence, ran through the visiting midfield and slotted a defence splitting pass to Tom James to level the scores. Both sides redoubled their efforts and chances were being created at both ends. It was a shame therefore that it was a dubious penalty that won the game for the visitors. The referee, who had had a good game up to that point, adjudging a foul to have taken place inside the box when it looked miles outside.

Overall an game played in good spirit and, despite the conditions, not a little skill.

Credit: Unknown
Last modified on Monday 23rd November 2020 at 04:14