The first five minutes of the game were very even with both sides testing each other. Stratton took the early advantage by placing pressure onto the defence of Josh H, Regan, Jack and Scott. Stratton were pushing forward with some good passing which Bassett struggled to play against. Stratton push forward and managed to get the first shot away on goal, Joe makes a good save by catching the ball cleanly. Bassett then break down the right through Ben, Ben drives goal bound but the Stratton defence is strong, and clear the ball away for a corner. Bassett are not able to take advantage of the corner. Again Stratton break, running through midfield, with two attackers on one defender at times. Joe again is forced to make a good save. Arron, Fraser and Josh W, are dropping back very deep, and at times were behind our back four. Stratton again push forward and forces Jack to clear the ball away for a corner. A short corner is taken and the ball is crossed, the ball hits Josh W hands, which were down the side of his body, so it was ball to hand! The penalty is awarded and converted by Stratton. Bassett are a goal down, and I must say at this stage Stratton deserved the lead..

Bassett were asleep at times, not closing down Stratton when they had the ball, also I would suggest that our positional play was not good, when we did break there was no one in midfield to pick the ball up and distribute to our forwards. Josh W and Tyler worked well together contesting for balls, but again I saw two Bassett players going for the same ball, and the second ball was not covered. Bassett break from a good ball from Fraser, Arron picks up the ball but is closed down very quickly but managed to get the shot away, but the shot is saved. Then Stratton score a second time, some good passing beat our defence and the cross was made, Stratton had an unmarked forward in the box who taped the ball into the back of our net. Stratton are now two up. Bassett break through the Stratton defence, Josh W who makes a great pass to Ben, Ben drives goal bound and shoots but the shot is saved. Again Stratton break and this time walk through the Bassett defence, Joe comes off his line but the attacker smacks the ball into the back of the net for their third. Half time Stratton are 3 up.

The second half commenced and Bassett looked better, passing the ball well, there was also a sense of urgency in their play, a little late maybe. Arron won the ball on the right and passed a great ball into the feet of Ben, Ben shoots but the ball is cleared off the line by the Stratton defenders. Bassett were now playing as they can, passing the ball and holding their positions well. Tyler flicks a ball over the top of the Stratton defenders for Josh W to run onto, Josh attempts to chip, the oncoming goal keeper, but the chip is just wide. Bassett are playing better football now, I can only imagine what was said at half time! Scott is off and Jake is on. Josh H is playing well at the back putting in some big tackles and playing the one two's with Arron and Ben. Ben is replaced by Callum M. The next ten minutes was very even, with no team breaking down the other. The ground was hard and Regan fell foul of those conditions, a bad graze forced a replacement, and Callum G is on. Stratton break and shoots forcing Joe to make a save. Bassett continued to make mistakes, miss kicking the ball, not passing to a Bassett player, this is just not our game. Stratton are now pushing Bassett back forcing Joe to make save after save. Then the break through Bassett needed, a break from Sam beats the Stratton defenders, Sam cracks the ball into the back of the net for what was a consolation goal. Final score 1-3 to Stratton.

We must to learn from this experience, we need to be first to the balls and not have two players going for the same ball. Also I felt that we attempted to take on two many players and lost the ball on many occasions, we need to pass the ball better and work the space make the ball do the work. Today we lacked team spirit on an individual basis I'm sure they felt they put their best effort, but it's a team game. Also we were second to most balls. We must keep to our positions, and prevent the two on ones at the back someone needs to stay in midfield. On the positive front we did win the second half and looked better as we looked to play our passing game.

Credit: Andy Walduck
Last modified on Monday 28th December 2020 at 20:14