Addison Road, Saturday 27 September 2003

Rich Stevens saved two penalties as Bassett went through 4-3 on penalties in their Challenge Cup Preliminary round game at Easington Sports. Bassett struggled throughout after going down 1-0 in normal time before an own goal saved them from humiliation – Easington definitely deserved the win.

Neither team started well, with no clear cut chances falling to either team on a bumpy pitch. On twelve minutes a Mark Mortell corner was headed over by Ben Elkington.

Mortell had a chance on twenty two minutes but his shot from the edge of the area was comfortably saved by Stevens in the Bassett goal. Easington continued to dominate and three minutes later a twenty five yard Gregg Shawyer effort flew over.

Up to then it was all Easington and the home side took the lead on the half hour mark when Shawyer headed in a perfect Mortell cross. Seconds later after the restart Bassett had a lucky break and found themselves level when Darren Farley headed over his 'keeper Richard Meadows from thirty yards out.

Easington had a chance two minutes later but Lee Harris squandered his opportunity as he hit wide from thirty yards out.

Matt Bennett then came close for Bassett after thirty eight minutes when he connected with a Neil Bridges ball, lobbed the 'keeper from fifteen yards out but the ball bounced over the bar.

Five minutes from the break Stevens kept out another shot as he saved a Shawyer shot from a Lee Harris ball.

The second half was much the same with Easington on top throughout. Seven minutes after the restart Shishminder Thind hit over from ten yards out. Geoff Swatton had his first chance of the game on 58 minutes when he received a Neil Bridges throw in only to hit over from the edge of the area. Two minutes later Mark Vaughan came close as he too hit wide from just outside the box.

Bassett were nearly behind on 68 minutes when Thind connected with a Shawyer ball but Thind's head rebounded off the crossbar. Two minutes on at the other end Matt Bennett took a shot from twenty five yards only for Meadows to save.

Poor defending allowed Shawyer through again as his shot from ten yards was saved. Bassett took this opportunity to make a change as Rob Hopkins replaced Dave Jones.

Bassett continued to hang on for dear life and on 76 minutes Harris had a shot saved. This before Geoff Swatton and Darren Farley both received yellow cards for a scuffle.

Mark Simpkins had an ideal chance eleven minutes from time when he hit a free kick over. Three minutes later Bassett made another change bringing Neil Bridges off and Carl Taylor on. This was to be the last action in normal time meaning another half hour's work for Bassett.

Two minutes into the first period of extra time Thind came close again as he hit over from twenty yards. In the 96th minute Matt Bennett had another chance for Bassett but he hit wide one-on-one with Meadows.

Bassett made their final change on 101 minutes when Ben Jarrett replaced Danny Clayton. Two Easington subs combined two minutes later when Aaron Reynolds was played through by Steve Worthington but Stevens held onto the Reynolds shot.

In the second period of extra time Easington were all over Bassett and on 110 minutes Joel Bloxham headed over a Mark Mortell free kick.

Geoff Swatton had a good chance two minutes later when he forced a cat like save from Richard Meadows. Deep into stoppage time Bassett had a scare when Darren Farley shot from an uncleared corner past Rich Stevens but the ball was cleared off the line and the game went to penalties.

Jamie Crammond stepped up first for Easington and he put the ball away into the top corner. Geoff Swatton then sent the 'keeper the wrong way, coolly placing the ball. Gregg Shawyer was next to take for Easington and he made no mistake of placing the ball past Stevens. Mark Simpkins then sent Richard Meadows the wrong way to level the scores. Thind was next to take and he put the ball into the top corner. Matt Bennett then did the same as the two previous Bassett players sending Meadows the wrong way. Next up was Steve Worthington who shot, Stevens guessing the right way and saving the penalty. Steve Yeardley placed the ball in the far corner to give Bassett an advantage. Up stepped Lee Harris to decide the game, he looked nervous as he stepped forward and Stevens guessed right again to put Bassett through into the next round.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Matt Bennett – showed great vision to try and create chances throughout.

Scoop Rating: 7/10 – Not the tidiest of games for Bassett but won either way.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Thursday 3rd September 2020 at 09:11