Game of the season for me, two very strong sides battled for 60 minutes of football. Saying that Bassett were the stronger of the two teams but, could not find the back of the net to take the win.

Bassett got off to a great start placing probing balls through the defence of Shaw. Scott played a good pass to the feet of Ben on the right, who ran through the defence. Ben worked hard to get the cross into the box, Shaw cleared their lines only to find Fraser, who cracked the ball just over the cross bar. Fraser won the ball in midfield and passed the ball to Ben, who again, ran direct towards the Shaw goal, but Ben's shot was saved. Bassett were pushing Shaw back and were finding holes in there defence. Then Shaw broke and win a corner, the corner was not taken well and found the side netting. Now Shaw had the upper hand and pushed Bassett back, Shaw found some space but only managed to shoot from distance, in the main due to the very good defending of Jake, Jack, Regan and Josh W. Joe made two very good saves in quick sucession, each time catching the ball with authority. Josh W ran into space on the left and played in a pass for Callum M to run onto, Callum ran goal bound, and cut back inside the defender and shot, but the Shaw goal keeper saves. For the next 10 minutes the game was very even but full of action. Again Josh pushes forward from the left back position, and finds Callum M on the left, Callum runs at the Shaw defenders and is taken down for his troubles. Up steps Jake to take the fee kick, Jake cracks the ball, with bend, goal bound, all of Bassett's forwards were in the box, as the ball misses them all and the Shaw goal keeper to find the back of the net. Bassett take the lead desirably so.

Bassett were back on top taking the play to Shaw, Jake plays a great pass to Ben who again runs through the defence of Shaw, Ben plays a pass to Sam who is quickly tackled by the Shaw defence but earns a corner. The corner is taken by Jake and find the head of Fraser, the ball travels goal bound only to be saved by the Shaw goal keeper. Fraser played a ball into Sam who flicked the ball across to Callum M, Callum runs goal bound, and shoots, but the ball runs just wide. Then Shaw break, playing the ball over the top, Joe runs out of his goal, and successfully clears the ball away from danger. Every time Shaw attempted to break, either Jack or Regan dealt with the attack, just great defending. Arron had been quite quiet until Josh W released a ball into the path of Arron who ran goal bound, Arron ran into the Shaw defence and could not get the shot away. Josh W again found Callum M on the left, who forced himself down the left made some room for the pass which found Sam, Sam went around the defender, and found himself one on one with the goal keeper, Sam strikes the ball towards the Shaw goal, but the goal keeper pulls off the save. Half time Bassett lead 1-0.

The second half Bassett are straight at Shaw pushing them back and forcing an early corner. Shaw were pushed back, and their goal keeper was struggling to clear the ball, when taking a goal kick, the keeper stubs his toe and pushes the ball to Sam, who attacks the ball but the referee blows his whistle? I was told after the game that the ball did not come out beyond the outer goal area, although it was very different views on this! Bassett were still on the attack, Callum M working hard down the left crossed the ball into the Shaw goal area, Arron was running in like a greyhound, but could not quite get his foot onto the ball. Bassett were still camped down in the Shaw half struggling to clear the ball, Fraser found some space and cracked the ball goal bound, but the ball travelled over the top of the cross bar. Again Fraser got involved and passed the ball back to Jake, who crossed the ball and found Sam, Sam controlled the ball well and had a shot at goal, but like Fraser's shot, Sam's shot went over the cross bar. Shaw started to pass the ball around, and found some gaps. Bassett were caught ball watching and Shaw found some space on Bassett's left, the attacker strikes the ball with bend towards the Bassett goal, Joe dives to his left, but the ball hits the back of the top corner of Bassett's net. There was nothing Joe could have done to save this shot. Shaw had a 5 minute spell where they pushed Bassett back, but Bassett defended well. Then a great opportunity, Regan plays a ball into the feet of Arron, Arron runs straight at the Shaw goal, Arron shoots, and the ball is heading towards the top corner, but the Shaw goal keeper saves, giving Bassett a corner.

Bassett were now forcing Shaw back, Sam found some space and cracked the ball goal bound, the Shaw goal keeper saves, but only to push the ball back to Sam, who again cracks the ball goal bound, but again the Shaw goal keeper saves. Scott releases Ben on the right, a great cross from Ben found Callum M, who shoots, but again the Shaw keeper saves. Callum G worked hard in midfield in what was a very fast game with lots of action, in fact I struggled to write notes, as when I did I was missing the action!!!! Bassett were back on top consistently playing the ball into the Shaw half, which was cleared by Shaw, Scott, left footed cracked the ball goal bound, but like Fraser and Sam the ball sailed over the top of the cross bar. Shaw were struggling to clear their lines, again Scott is given a second opportunity to crack the ball goal bound, which he did with his right foot, but again the ball fly's over the top of the cross bar. Then Bassett break down the right with Ben, Ben finds Sam who scores, by pushing the ball to the left of the goal keeper, but what's this, off-side!|!!! Called by the Shaw manager which is heard by the Shaw lino who puts up his flags. 'That's football'. Final score 1-1.

Full time 1-1. This was a good, No a great game to watch, Bassett did everything, but win. The team effort was stunning to watch, and Bassett were on top of most of the game and deserved the win. The game was quick and exciting to watch, all I could hear was the oohs and the aahs as Bassett could not quite find the back of the net. I have a good idea!!! We need to increase the hit of the goals by some 3 feet, just this one small change would have given Bassett 4 additional goals! A fantastic effort from all the lads well done.

Credit: Andy Walduck
Last modified on Monday 28th December 2020 at 19:54