After Roger and the rest of the staff and Bassett performed miracles with the pitch, it only seemed fitting that the lads put on a performance that would go some way to repaying their efforts.

Binfield looked a very strong side and not just their physical presence, both Mike and Chris new that this game was going to pose more than enough challenges and would really show the progress that the squad has made under the new management team.

It was a nervous start by Bassett who took fifteen minutes to really get into their stride, which was understandable as the last game was the 24th December. Binfield had some very good opportunities during this time, which were snuffed out by some solid defending and excellent goalkeeping by Nis Sultan.

Binfield took the lead towards the end of the first half with a goal that not only disappointed Mike but also the players. A long hopeful ball from the right side to the left, which a Binfield player retrieved and crossed far too easily but even then Bassett had more than enough cover to deal with the cross The ball found it′s way to the Binfield striker who scuffed his shot, which then embarrassed the normally outstanding Sultan.

Bassett picked up after that and finished the half much stronger but still not really providing too much of a threat in the final third, Chris Hawkins providing the only real notable effort on goal.

Whatever Mike and Chris said during the halftime break certainly showed what this Bassett team are made of, Ritchie Unwin, Tom Messenger and Tony MaC hustling, tackling and chasing as if their life depending on it and with this strong platform the performance from the rest of the lads increased as well.

After a period of intense pressure the equaliser came when James Townsend was released down the left and provided a delightful finish beating the keeper with a well-placed drive. The second followed very soon after Jack Dodd finishing off a corner capping a very impressive performance, and after a goalmouth scramble the third through captain Paul Davis.

With only one team in it and time running out Binfield looked a beaten side until an absolutely horrendous lunge on Tom Messenger which resulted in the player having to leave the field with stud marks running down his shin and Bassett down to ten men for the remain minutes as Mike had already made all of changes. It was outrageous that the player who committed this leg-breaking lunge didn′t receive his marching orders and totally unbelievable that he didn′t even get booked especially when it happened directly in front of the referee.

With Binfield now having the advantage, clear heads and resolute defending would be required and that′s what we got, only a speculative effort two minutes before the end game gave Binfield a glimmer of hope in getting something out of a game that they didn′t deserve.

Man of the Match: Ritchie Unwin – Complete display under some extreme provocation, deserved more from the referee after being taken out on a number of occasions.

Comments from the Manager: Very pleased, I knew that this was going to be a different proposition to our earlier game with Binfield and the lads adapted well to a new formation and will be certainly something that we look at again. We had some very strong performances from the spine of the team, which enabled us to exploit the spaces that eventually hurt them.

Credit: Unknown
Last modified on Friday 4th December 2020 at 09:17