Highworth Juniors arrived at Ballards Ash as strong contenders for the County Cup clash, with the winner going through to the last four.

Bassett started well looking the stronger side from the off pushing Highworth Juniors back into their own half. Fraser passed the ball to Jake who crossed the ball into the Highworth goal mouth, but the goal keeper catches the ball. Ben had the legs on the Highworth Juniors left back turning him inside out at will. Fraser worked some space and got the shot away but the Highworth Juniors goal keeper saves. Both sides were attempting to play the passing game but Bassett were just too strong in all areas, poor Joe was sat in the Bassett goal looking very board.

Although Bassett were camped in the Highworth Juniors half it was very hard to break down their nine man defence. Ben and Jake linked up well on the right, allowing Jake to have a shot from distance but the ball travelled over the top of the cross bar. Callum M, on the left ran at the defenders with the assistance of Josh W, but the defence of Highworth Juniors stood strong. Bassett were pushing Highworth Juniors back and I'm sure at one point all eleven players were defending at one point. Callum M ran down the left and played in Josh W, Josh cuts inside and shoots, but it's saved. Sam up front is working hard and showing great speed, but Highworth Juniors closed him down very quickly not allowing Sam to shoot. Ben again beats his defender down the right and found the room to shoot, the Highworth Juniors goal keeper punches the ball away into the path of Fraser, Fraser shots from some 20 yards, the ball hits the back of the net. Bassett take a well deserved lead.

At last Highworth Juniors break for the first time after 20 minutes of football, but it's dealt with by Regan with ease. Bassett came straight back at Highworth Juniors with Tyler playing a good ball to Josh W, Josh shoots but it's saved. Bassett's defence of Regan, Jack, Scott and Jake were solid, not allowing Highworth Juniors to break, and when the ball did fall onto the back four, the link up play to midfield was solid. A ball from Regan found Josh who found Tyler, Tyler shoots but again the Highworth Juniors goal keeper saves. Highworth are now fighting back and spends five minutes in the Bassett half and force Joe to make a catch as they shoot from distance. Highworth start to play balls over the top but Jack or Regan headed the ball back with added distance. Then Bassett break Callum M, down the left plays in Sam, Sam shoots across goal, and the Highworth Juniors goal keeper just gets a finger tip on the ball to push the ball around the upright. Bassett again are camped in the Highworth Juniors half, and with Highworth defending well with numbers they were very hard to break down. The last action of the first half sore Callum M shoots, but the ball clatters into the side netting. Half time Bassett one up.

The second half was very much the same as the first with Bassett pushing Highworth Juniors back. Sam managed to get onto the end of a pass from Josh and crossed the ball, but there was nobody in the box to take advantage of the cross. It's all Bassett and still Highworth Juniors keep the ball out of their net, quite how, I will never know. Bassett went through a stage of conceding a number of free kicks, but all in the Highworth Juniors half therefore not threatening to the Bassett goal. Callum M breaks and plays a good ball into Sam, Sam shoots with lots of pressure from the defender and the ball just goes wide of the goal. Then Bassett's second, Callum M breaks down the left and Sam picks the ball up and makes a perfect cross which Ben taps into the back of the net. Callum G is on along with Josh H, Callum is soon involved in the action supporting Ben in midfield, playing some nice one two's with Fraser and Ben. Josh, although not well, puts in some great tackles on the right.

Final score 2-0 to Bassett. All credit to Highworth Juniors who defended for 50 minutes out of the 60 played, also I must say the entire team battled hard today and worked so hard to win especially when there were 11 defenders at times. I must also say that Highworth Juniors did not look like scoring, in fact they did not have one shot on target throughout the game. Well done lads.

Credit: Andy Walduck
Last modified on Monday 28th December 2020 at 19:57