The Bassett U15s interest in the cup this year ended in the first round, as they were beaten convincingly by the holders, at a wind swept Ballards Ash. For the first 20 minutes it was "backs-to-the--wall" as Cricklade pressed forward, the home team rarely leaving their own half. Despite all their pressure however, Joe Brennan in goal had little to stop in the way of actual shots, this was in no small measure due to the excellent defence of Miles Hart, Nick Harrison, Martyn Anderton and especially Zhenia Fogel. Where Bassett struggled was in midfield where we were second to the ball on numerous occasions with only Ross Barber offering any real resistance and it was after he came off injured, towards the end of the half, that the wheels began to seriously fall off the Bassett bus. The home team went one down after a forward ball was allowed to squirm out of Joes hands into the path of an oncoming Cricklade attacker who had no problem in finding the back of the net. Two further goals followed in the closing stages of the first half as the Bassett defence began to wilt under the onslaught and it was with some relief that the whistle went for the end of the half.

Second half was a different story as now with the game out of sight, Bassett began to make a contest of it. Chances were made at both ends and for a while the home team matched Cricklade in every department. It was a shot, after 55 minutes, from outside the box, which the Bassett keeper had no chance with, that broke the second half duck and a fifth goal, after what seemed a foul on Nick Harrison, which rounded off the away sides tally. Bassett got a consolation goal from Tim Gleed, who fought off the challenge of two defenders, only to see his shot parried by the keeper but scored on the rebound.

A disappointing game, overall, where the midfield especially requires some work before we meet Cricklade again in 2 weeks time in the League.

Credit: Unknown
Last modified on Monday 23rd November 2020 at 04:11