Meadowbank, 24th November 2004

Bassett again failed to hang on to a lead, but did enough to earn a crucial point away at Shortwood as the visitors put in a hard working performance.

Bassett went down by a goal inside two minutes when Tim Haddock tapped in a Matt Bennett corner at the far post unmarked.

Bassett didn't drop their heads however and kept playing the passing football and were the better team for the majority of the first half.

On seventeen minutes, Jay Richings held on to a Geoff Swatton shot from the edge of the area after good work down the right hand side by Matt Bennett and Steve Yeardley.

Shortwood then went down to ten men temporarily as one of their players had to remove his black boxer shorts.

Swatton came close again halfway through the first period after good passing play from Bassett gave Swatton a shot on goal but his thirty yard effort was parried wide.

Four minutes later Ian Gill denied Nick Weekes after a Bennett cross before Haddock received a booking for a late foul on Dave Tyler.

Ten minutes from the break Weekes had a shot deflected wide from thirty yards before Chris Mills was denied by Richings at the other end as Richings made a close range save after Mills got a deft touch on a Swatton ball.

Bassett were awarded a penalty one minute into first half stoppage time as Gary Marshall dragged down Steve Yeardley in the box, Marshall being booked for his action. Matty Bennett struck the penalty in as Richings got a hand to it to level the scores going into half time.

Three minutes after the restart, Swatton gave Bassett the lead. Tom Messenger played the ball into Mills who laid back to Swatton and the in form striker struck the ball past Richings with his left foot from 15 yards.

On 55 minutes, Ian Gill put Bennett flying down the wing, after taking on two Bennett played the ball cross field to Swatton who struck wide from twenty yards.

Eight minutes later a slip up by Rich Willis allowed John Dalton a shot on goal but Gill saved maintaining Bassett's lead.

Messenger – who had picked up a knock earlier in the game – was replaced by Mark King in the 65th minute; this was to be Bassett's solitary substitution as they tried to hang onto a tight game.

'Keeper Richings was booked just after Bassett made the sub for pulling down Swatton just outside the area and then Weekes found himself in the book for arguing the referee's decision.

A good run by Bennett set up a shot for himself but his twenty-five yard drive failed to trouble the target.

The inevitable happened nine minutes from time as Bassett conceded late on again, this time Shortwood capitalized on a Steve Yeardley error as the Bassett defender failed to clear his lines. Tim Haddock received the ball thirty yards out and smashed the ball into the top of the net, catching Gill off his line.

Bennett had a chance to ice the game three minutes from time however, after the home side made a huge mental mistake as Richings picked up a backpass. Bennett blasted over from twelve yards after Swatton laid the ball off, as Bassett's cruel luck this year continued.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Ashley Bradshaw – put in a great performance on the left in his first senior start. Linked up well with Dave Tyler and showed good touch and a good eye for the ball.

Scoop Rating: 8/10 – Another mistake led to the Shortwood equaliser, but it was an all around good performance in a fast paced and exciting game.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Tuesday 15th September 2020 at 10:05