This top of the table clash did not disappoint as the game was full of hard battling and some interesting referee decisions which affected both teams.

Wroughton started to settle down well before Bassett plays some good balls with high quality passing, this forced Bassett in clearing their lines with long high balls. Wroughton had a very early opportunity to score but Joe saves by pushing the ball cross goal which allowed Scott to clear the ball away. Again Wroughton attack and again they shoot, Joe again pushes the ball away and again Scott clears the ball away. Right now it's all Wroughton they have pined Bassett back into their own half.

The games started to even out for 10 minutes as Bassett start to push back a little, some good breaks from Josh and Arron were defended well by Wroughton. Fraser played a good ball for Arron to run on to, Arron runs through the Wroughton defence and shoots but the shot is wide of the target. Each time Bassett attacked the Wroughton keeper came off his line very quickly to prevent any attack. Josh H attacked a ball and came off worse getting a boot in his manly hood! - 'That must have hurt?' The game again was very even but now becoming a very scrappy game, both teams playing the high ball. Josh W and Fraser clash in the air as they challenge for the same ball, Josh comes off worse and a bang on his head. Wroughton were now struggling to break through the defence of Scott, Josh, Regan and Jack, I have to say that our defence were very strong. Half time nil - nil.

The second half started in much the same way as the first, but both teams were getting a little frustrated which was shown in the quality of the football. Bassett gave away cheap free kicks through pushing the Wroughton players 'why?' there was no need. Wroughton break which forces Bassett back into their own half, Wroughton drive towards the Bassett goal line but a clash of feet and the Wroughton attacker falls to the ground, I think this should have been a penalty, but the Ref waves play on. The Wroughton coaching staff become very angry and verbally abuse the ref; the ref stops the games and has a word. Bassett break through a good ball from Max to Arron, Arron crosses the ball but it's too close to the Wroughton keeper who catches the ball with some ease. Max is replaced by Tyler.

Tyler is in the action from the off and plays a good ball for Sam, Sam attempts to lift the ball over the keeper but does not quite get the height required to clear the keeper, who makes the save. Bassett are battling hard but we have no shape nor can we play the ball on the ground, we are just not passing the ball around. Wroughton again come back at Bassett forcing Bassett back at this point they don't look like they were going to score; they could not break down the Bassett defence. Wroughton are awarded a corner, the corner is taken well and a goal mouth scramble takes place, the ball is struck towards the Bassett goal, Scott clears off the line. Callum is working hard up front but also defending well when required.

Then the break through, Bassett attack down the right through Arron and Sam, this forces the corner. Tyler steps up and cracks the ball into the crowded Wroughton goal mouth, Wroughton attempt to clear but can't, Josh W picks the ball up and takes it around the Wroughton players who were throwing themselves on the floor and smacks the ball into the back of the net. Bassett take the lead with only ten minutes remaining. Callum is replaced by Dale. Wroughton attack with long balls over the top of the Bassett defence, this was not a problem as Joe come off his lines to claim the ball. Wroughton win a free kick just outside of the Bassett goal, the free kick is taken well but Joe makes a clean catch.

Wroughton are then awarded a corner, the corner is taken well and Joe punches the ball away - then the ref gives Wroughton a penalty! I don't believe it. I was very close to Joe and I know that Joe got both hands on the ball; the ref was at the far end of the goal mouth and could not have seen Joe's contact with the ball. (No Wroughton player fell to the ground or said they were punched!) I'm sorry but I feel that the pressure of the Wroughton coaching staff made the ref feel he had made a mistake by not giving the first penalty decision 20 minutes ago. Wroughton step up and take the penalty but the ball hits over the top of the cross bar. But the ref was convinced Joe had one foot over his goal line? - What?. Wroughton don't miss the second chance and draw the game. Final score 1-1.

We lost our cool today with that we lost our shape and our ability to play our passing game. I also feel that we stood off the ball too much, we did not challenge enough, also we did not work for each other, and there was very little movement off the ball when we did attack. Let's take some positives, we did not play well and almost won the game but for some strange decisions, this is a positive, also we defended very well, we did have some chances but could not convert them.

Credit: Andy Walduck
Last modified on Thursday 31st December 2020 at 15:38