The pitch was very muddy with a puddle of water in one of the goals, this made the going very heavy indeed, add this to the slope of the pitch, and you have the making of a low scoring game!

From the off Bassett were the stronger team pinning FC Abbey Meads back in to their own half. Josh H played well as right back supporting Ben who was running around the Abbey Meads defenders. Sam made a good layoff to Fraser who found Ben on the right, Ben drives goal bound, Ben shoots but the shot is saved. The team were attempting to play their passing game but struggled in the poor conditions. Abbey Meads were defending wave after wave of attacks and in the main defended well until the break though. Tyler finds some space in the crowded goal mouth to shoot, but the first shot is pushed back into the path of Tyler who cracks the ball into the back of the net on second time of asking. Bassett take the lead. The back four of Scott, Regan, Jack and Josh H were playing well but are not being tested. Then the second goal, a great ball from Josh W who took the ball out of Bassett's half and passes to Sam, Sam runs goal bound and skilfully takes the ball around the goal keeper and knocks the ball into the empty net, Bassett two up. Then Abbey Meads break, but the attack is dealt with by Jack and Regan with some ease. Tyler picks out Sam who breaks though the defence of Abbey Meads to score his second. Bassett are now three up and cruising to victory. Abbey Meads are struggling to hold onto the ball as Bassett pressurise each ball carrier. Bassett break, Sam plays a great ball to Fraser who runs with the ball towards the Abbey Meads goal, but then winds up his right foot and shoots, the ball bends from right to left finding the top right hand corner of the Abbey Meads net. Bassett are now four up. Danny is now on and Regan is off. Abbey Meads manage to pass the ball through the Bassett defence, Joe runs out of his goal to collect the ball, Joe then throws the ball to Scott who carries it up the left hand side and makes a good pass to Josh W, Josh continues the run and cuts back inside and manages to shoot, but the shot is saved. Bassett then go five up, a good ball from Josh H finds Ben who does not miss and finds the back of the Abbey Meads net. Bassett were on top in all areas of the park outplaying Abbey Meads. A hard tackle by Fraser in midfield sees Fraser replaced by Callum M. Danny is playing well in defence clearing the ball well when needed. Half time Bassett lead by five goals.

Josh W took Bassett up to six by taking advantage of some good work by Callum M on the left; Callum battled hard to win the ball then ran towards the goal line, then the cross, which finds Josh W who cracks the ball into the back of the Abbey Meads net. The second half was very much the same as the first, however, the team was changed around a great deal, to the point I struggled to keep up. Joe was our striker and Fraser was in goal. Scott, who was now in a midfield role, had a dig from distance but the ball is just wide of the Abbey Meads post. Callum G played well getting stuck in when required also Max battled hard in midfield and played some good balls into the forwards, but also got back and defended when he was required to do so. Then Regan found the space to have a shot, but this also was off target. Josh H had been working hard all game and took Bassett up to Seven, Josh ran with the ball down the right and cut back inside beating the defenders, he then shoots, the ball travelled into the back of the Abbey Meads net. Max is now in goal and Fraser is in defence. A break by Abbey Meads offers an opportunity for the shot, Max pulls off a great save to keep the clean sheet. Then the final goal, a break from midfield through Callum G finds Callum M, who finds Tyler, Tyler passes to Joe V who shoots and finds the puddle which is on the goal line and the goal is awarded.

This was always going to be an easier game for us, but I do think we missed a handful of chances in the first half, I would suggest we should have been in double figures. The second half saw almost every player playing in different positions and I think we lost our shape at times and running off side frequently. A win is a win, well done lads.

Credit: Andy Walduck
Last modified on Monday 28th December 2020 at 20:07