From the off Bassett were testing Ferndale, with Tyler passing to Sam who found some space but Sam could not get the shot away. Bassett started well pushing Ferndale back into their own half for the first five minutes. A well won ball by Fraser followed by a great pass to Callum M, on the left, allows Callum to run at the Ferndale forcing the corner. Bassett were on top with some good passing from Tyler, Josh W, Fraser and Arron, due to the fact they were consistently wining the ball. Then a break by Ferndale, who I must say broke very quickly, who managed to get a weak shot away, but Joe saves comfortably. This break gave Ferndale some confidence, as they changed their strategy of playing the ball across the ground to balls over the top, with the aim of playing in their two quick forwards. This put pressure onto Bassett's defence of Josh H, Jack, Regan and Scott. Ferndale played the ball over the top which allows them to break down their right, their number 10 was one on one with Joe, and Joe came out of his goal and saved the ball with his feet. A great save. Again Ferndale are putting the pressure on Bassett and break through midfield, and again, brave, Joe runs out of his goal to make the save, Joe takes the weight of the shot out but the ball heads towards Bassett's goal, Jack clears the ball away for the corner. Ferndale take the corner which is half cleared, a volley is stuck, and the ball travels towards Bassett's goal, Joe again makes the save, by catching the ball cleanly.

It's very clear that the Ferndale tactic of high balls was taking out Bassett's midfield, Bassett's coaching staff was asking our team to play the ball along the ground. Then the move of the first half, Scott places his foot on the ball, and played in Josh W, who passed directly to Tyler, Tyler had a shot at distance, the ball was dipping but just hit the top of the crossbar. On the right Josh H was making strong tackles in defence and won the ball several times for Bassett, this was supported by Regan and Jack. With ten minutes to go the football was end to end but no team could break through and find the back of the net. Half time all square.

Bassett came out in the second half attempting to play the ball along the floor. This was working well as Josh and Tyler were playing the one two's with the attempt to create space, but Ferndale defended well. Fraser played a ball into Tyler who struck the ball, hard, goal bound, the ball bounced just in front of the Ferndale goal keeper, and looked goal bound, but their goal keep just managed to get a hand to the ball. Ferndale break again with a ball over the top, the ball is stuck well towards Bassett's goal, Joe saves. Then the break though, Fraser wins the ball in midfield, and plays the ball into the path of Sam, Sam is strong and beats the Ferndale defender, and passes the ball into the right hand side of the gaol, Bassett take the lead. I'm sure I heard the words 'Hello' as the ball bent around the goal keeper! Ferndale from the re start attack Bassett, again with the lofted ball, Jake and Jack defend well as the Ferndale attacker attempts to push through the pair, Joe comes out of his goal to claim the ball, but the Ferndale attacker follows through and gives Joe a right old whack on his head for his efforts.

Ferndale place significant pressure on Bassett forcing Joe to make a very good catch from a shot from just outside the box. Ben on the right made some breaks supported well by Jake, Ben held is own on the right and made some good tackles to win the ball with some good solid play. Arron was playing on the left as Bassett move to a 4-5-1 with the aim of winning more from midfield. Then Ferndale break, Joe runs out of his goal slowing the ball down, but the ball is running towards Bassett's net, Jack sprints back and clears the ball off Bassett's goal line for the corner.

'How close was that?' Ferndale were on top now pushing Bassett back, this lasted for the five minutes or so, then Bassett break down the right with Ben and Jake, Jake bangs in the cross but no one could get on the end of it. Then again Ferndale break, and again Joe came running out of his goal, and again the ball spins towards Bassett's goal, and for the second time Jack clears the ball off the line. Full time 1-0 to Bassett.

A great game to watch, and 'I don't know about you but my heart was in my mouth a couple of times specifically in the second half'. A very physical game but the lads were up for the challenge today and disserved the win. The entire team played well this was supported by Joes saves and Jacks goal lines clearances. However I do believe we need to practice our through-ins on Tuesday! Well done lads.

Credit: Andy Walduck
Last modified on Monday 28th December 2020 at 19:50