Northcourt Road, Tuesday 13 January 2004

Bassett's goal drought continued against Abingdon but they were rewarded with a crucial point from a fast paced and exciting nil-nil draw.

Neither team created any clear cut chances in a first half that saw few physical clashes (something unusual in recent Bassett matches). Anaclet Odhiambo came close in the 17th minute when his shot from eighteen yards was tipped over the bar by the diving Rich Stevens.

The corner was over hit but the home side kept hold of the ball when Richard Pearson swung in a cross which Chris Hooper sent marginally wide on the half volley while unmarked in the box.

In the 20th minute a long range Hooper effort was saved as it bounced awkwardly in front of Rich Stevens. Three minutes later Geoff Swatton came close for Bassett, had it not been for his poor first touch Bassett may have been in the lead, instead, the shot from a tight angle was saved by Carl Wilkins.

This lack of a decent first touch had cost Bassett dear on a number of occasions in the first half, many attacks coming to a sudden end because of this.

Bassett's defence had so far held out well – Richard Gee doing a fine effort in keeping Nathan Woodley – Abingon's tall centre forward – out of the game.

Forty seconds after the restart Swatton again had a chance to put Bassett ahead when he latched onto a Mark Vaughan ball and was one-on-one with Wilkins, but Swatton put the ball past the post and out of play.

In the 52nd minute Swatton set up Tony Macek but Macek blasted high into the night sky from fifteen yards away.

Four minutes on and still Bassett pressured, again Swatton – this time linking up with John Magani – but Wilkins saved Swatton's shot with his feet putting the ball out for a corner from which nothing came.

Up next to come close was Magani. A poor long ball from Rich Willis was lucky to get through to the winger as an Abingdon defender slipped over. Magani's weak shot off his wrong foot slithered into the hands of Wilkins.

On 67 minutes Ben Gascoyne replaced Stewart Bellinger who was carrying a slight knock.

Eleven minutes from time Rich Willis hit wide a half cleared Bassett corner before Stu Hemsley replaced Dave Jones. Justin Hyde was next to come on as he replaced Magani.

Two Abingdon players were booked in the final minutes. First, James Organ for a scrap with Swatton five minutes from time. Organ was lucky not to have been booked earlier in the game. Two minutes into stoppage time Marc O'Hara received a yellow for fouling Mark Vaughan.

Next for Bassett, Pete Yeardley's best friend Michael Meaker and Southall in a tough home game in which Bassett desperately need points.

Manager's Man of the Match – Richard Gee and Mark Vaughan

Scoop's Man of the Match: Richard Gee – worked tirelessly all game; along with the rest of the defence he gave Rich Stevens a relatively quiet night.

Scoop Rating: 8/10 – A great performance – lively and fast paced; missed chances again cost victory but a morale lifting result.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Friday 4th September 2020 at 16:45