Bassett turned up with only 11 players, this was forced upon us through holidays, School trips and illness. This was going to be Bassett's first real test of the season and what a game.

For the first ten minutes both teams were testing each other but you could see at this point that both teams were going to play a very high standard of football. Bassett then started to find their feet and opened up Wroughton to make some breaks. The first break was down the left with Callum M who managed to push passed the defenders and deliver the cross, but this could not be converted. Bassett were now on top of the game pushing Wroughton back. Josh H and Arron won some good balls on the right and worked well together and on several occasion made room for the cross or the pass into midfield. Then Bassett's first chance, Josh W played in a ball towards Sam who struck the ball goal bound, but it hit the post! Wroughton then broke down their right but both Callum G and Regan were up for the challenge. Bassett were on the attack with Josh W and Sam linking well and pushed through a good ball for Arron, who struck the ball just wide of the Wroughton's goal. This was a good spell for Bassett, Wroughton were struggling to get hold of the ball, and when they did, Jack and Jake were very strong at the back. Scott played a good ball to Josh W who laid off the ball to Arron, Arron passed the ball back to Josh W who had a shot at goal, which was just wide.

Then Wroughton had a strong spell testing Bassett's back four, Wroughton found some space to have a shot but Joe saves, with no real threat. Then a break by Bassett, Scott picked up the ball just in front of Bassett's back four finding Callum M on the left, Callum passed the ball to Sam who stuck the ball with some anger, but the ball strikes the woodwork for a second time. Josh H and Arron worked hard to get the ball back into the Wroughton goal mouth, Callum had a shot on goal, but did not connect cleanly and the ball was cleared off the line by a Wroughton defender, how close was that! Wroughton had a shot from distance, which looked goal bound all the way, Joe catches the ball with some ease, well done Joe. Nil, Nil at the end of the first half, but it was Bassett all the way with some fantastic football at times.

The second half started with Wroughton placing great pressure on Bassett, they were the stronger team for the first ten minutes. Then the break through that Wroughton wanted a mistake at the back allows the Wroughton attacker a clear shot on goal, which was taken well. Bassett were one down. Bassett came straight back at Wroughton with some very good passing down our right between Josh and Jake, Jake played in a perfect cross which Sam headed goal bound, only to be just wide. Bassett had now turned the game around placing lots of pressure on the Wroughton defence. The ball was cleared as far as Scott who attempted to loft the ball into the back of the net, but the ball went well over the top. Bassett still on top with a break by Sam who played a perfect pass for Callum M, but the shot was wide. Then shot of the day for me, Arron was setup by Sam and released a cracking shot goal bound forcing the Wroughton goal keeper to dive to his left to push the ball around his post. Then the equaliser, a well taken corn er by Jake forced the ball to be cleared, but only as far as Josh, Josh passed the ball to Arron who passed it back to Sam who passed the ball into the left hand side of the net. Back to all square. Bassett were on top and working very hard for each other, Josh H found some space around the goal month and shot, the shot was saved. Josh W also found some space to shoot but again the shot was saved, Bassett were the stronger team but could not find the back of the net. Then a break by Wroughton who found some space down Bassett's left, followed by the shot, but Joe saves. The last five minutes were played in Wroughton half, but Bassett could not find the back of the net. Final score one a piece.

The entire team played very well, this was our hardest game yet and without the added benefit of having subs. Everyone worked hard and I feel Bassett were the better side on the day but we just could not convert the shots into goals today. I would like to offer a special thanks to Paul Garlick for acting as coach today who did a first-class job I know you will all agree. I also know that Eddie had a hard time running the line in the second half it's never easy, I will be looking out for the next 'assistant referee' to assist in the next game.

Credit: Andy Walduck
Last modified on Monday 28th December 2020 at 19:43