On a windswept afternoon at Ballard's Ash, we took on Ferndale Rodbourne A; a team that we have matched in previous years and who like ourselves have struggled at the beginning of this season.

Bassett had the early pressure with Martin and Reuben combining to set up Ollie. Then Ollie passed to Alex who went down the right wing to pass back in for Ollie, who held off the attention of a couple of defenders and beat the keeper with a strike that took an age to cross in front of the goal and hit the far post. From a throw on the left, Alex passed to Ollie who was holding up the ball in midfield and he switched the ball out to Tico, who put in a testing cross.

Ferndale managed to break free from their area and made a break through the middle to earn a corner. Ben got to the cross and combined with the defence to get the ball away. Ferndale again made space in the middle and let loose a testing shot which Ben managed to get to with some help from Mitchell.

Tico made his way down the right to put in a cross and earn a corner. When Ferndale tried to break out, Martin got back to stop the danger and keep the pressure on Ferndale. Bassett earned 3 corners in a row as Ferndale struggled to hold the Bassett team at bay.

Max came on as keeper and from his clearance to Mitchell set in play a good move to Tico and then Ollie for the keeper to push the ball wide. Bassett were playing some good football and switching the play from left to right to seek out space and attack Ferndale down the flanks. Some good battling from Reuben got the ball into Ollie in the box, who was smothered by three defenders as Ferndale struggled to stop Bassett getting the opening goal.

With Bassett on top, Ferndale came back and attacked and won a free-kick just outside the area. The resulting kick whistled over a packed penalty box and hit the crossbar, which was a reminder that the Ferndale team were still very much in the match.

Max set up Alex to run onto the Ferndale keeper for a 'one on one' but Alex's shot came back off the keeper and Bassett were foiled again. The ref blew his whistle for half-time with Bassett deserving to be in the lead without having found the net.

Ferndale started the second half with two fresh players who put pressure on the Bassett defence. The boys were desperate to do well and were trying hard with Mitchell, Martin, Tico and Reuben all making good defensive clearances.

Eventually, Alex managed to run clear and set up Reuben, who rounded a defender and set off a rasping shot that was kept out by the keeper and the bar. Topps came on for Ollie and his pressure earned Bassett a corner. Bassett kept Ferndale in their area but then Ferndale made a break and Tico got back to cover the danger.

Bassett won a corner and the ball came to Martin on the back post and his shot went just wide skimming the post. Martin and Alex combined on the left wing to put Ferndale under pressure as the game was being played in their half of the field. Bassett had to be on their toes however as Ferndale were looking dangerous on the break but Mitchell, Tico and Topps held them off as both teams tired. Bassett won 2 more corners before the final whistle but the ball was determined not to find the net.

The match was at times hard fought but we battled and created the better chances. It was a pleasing team performance particularly in the first half. Both Ollie and Tico deserve a special mention but today the Man of the Match is the whole team as they all contributed to the result.

Man of the Match – Mitchell, Topps, Tico, Ben, Max, Reuben, Alex, Martin and Ollie

Credit: Unknown
Last modified on Monday 28th December 2020 at 21:10