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Rylands Way, 17th August 2010
With the Football Association's national website carrying a pre-match report referring to Sam Collier as the "Bionic Man" it was fitting that Collier was to bag two goals in this thriller at Rylands Way and relation John Beeden was also to get the other goal in open play in a real family affair. Both also put away their penalties in the shoot out that ultimately decided this tightest of contests between two evenly matched sides.
It was Bassett who created the first real chance of the game on 15 minutes when Alex Green got behind the Bradford defence and put in a cross to the far post to Collier, who connected with the header but could not get enough on it to beat keeper Ed Baldy. A minute later Shaun Crater had another headed chance from brother Richie's free kick but again this came to nothing.
As Bassett turned up the heat Terry Adams was put clear following good interplay between Green and Collier, but again the final shot could not beat Baldy. More slick passing saw Adams put Collier through on 22 minutes but the "bionic man" on this occasion could only muster a weak shot that was easily saved by the visiting keeper.
The visitors' first real attack came on 25 minutes and saw an overhead kick from Jake Hiscocks, following a Shaun Percival cross, go well wide. A minute later Liam Milburn had a powerful shot from the edge of the box that was well held by home custodian Stewart Thompson.
The contest was mainly fought in midfield and it was over ten minutes before there was any real chance for either side, Alex Green having a header blocked from a corner. Three minutes later a Terry Adams shot was well held by Baldy. The final action of the half saw a Sean Bailey shot go well wide on the stroke of half-time as the two sides failed to find the net in the first 45 minutes.
At the start of the second period it was again Bassett who sought to seize the initiative. Alex Green had a powerful shot after a one-two with Terry Adams but again Baldy was equal to it. There was a close shave for Bassett on 52 minutes when Collier was dispossessed by Dave Percival, however the former Trowbridge striker fired over.
Back came Bassett and Shaun Carter hit the bar with an effort following more good work by Terry Adams. The same player then put an exquisite pass through for Alex Green but he fired wide.
The deadlock was then finally broken on 65 minutes when Alex Green set Sam Collier up and he beat Baldy with a powerful shot.
The lead was to be short lived as a free-kick fired into the Bassett box by Liam Milburn was deflected in off a home defender. The visitors then went ahead on 69 minutes. Martin Johnson supplied the cross and Jerad O'Pray found the net from just inside the box with a well-finished headed goal. Bassett upped their game to get back into the match and managed to draw back level with a powerful Collier header from a Craig Bowden free kick.
Having fought so hard to get back into the match Bassett nearly threw it away when Bowden was dispossessed but the Bradford striker could only fire straight at Thompson in the Bassett goal.
With ten minutes remaining it was then Bassett's turn to seek the elusive winner. Collier flicked the ball on for Green and only a late interception from Ricky Trott denied the Bassett striker. This was to be the last real chance and the two sides finished the 90 minutes level at two goals apiece.
Five minutes into extra time Bassett again nearly gifted the visitors the lead as a bad pass from Richie Carter was intercepted, and full back Lee Wilson was put clear one on one against Stewart Thompson. However, the Bassett keeper prevailed and the ball was eventually scrambled away. On 100 minutes Ryan Banks beat the Bradford offside trap and rounded the keeper but his effort agonisingly hit the post and wemt out for a goal kick.
Just on the stroke of half-time substitute Ethan Delaney then got behind the Bradford defence and put in a tremendous cross but unfortunately there was no-one on the end of it to put the ball away. Bradford immediately attacked and O'Pray supplied an incisive through-ball, before Martin Johnson found the net from just inside the box with a speculative right footed effort. At 3-2 to Bradford, Bassett's cup hopes were fading.
The second period of extra-time saw Bradford slow the pace of the game down and start to waste time as Bassett struggled to create chances. How ironic then that in added time of extra time John Beeden got on the end of another Craig Bowden free kick to head powerfully into the net to make it 3-3 and set up the need for penalties.
In the shoot out Collier and Green both scored as did their Bradford counterparts. Unfortunately Craig Bowden's spot kick was saved by Baldy but Thompson then pulled off a magnificent save of a Bradford kick to leave the score 2-2. Richie Carter then made it 3-2 but Bradford drew level. Beeden was the last of the regular spot kick takers for Bassett and he coolly fired into the net to make it 4-3 and set it up for Stewart Thompson to redeem himself after his spill at Bradford helped force the replay. He was indeed the hero and after saving the final Bradford penalty scenes of mass celebration followed.
In the end it was tough on Bradford, as there had been little to choose between the two sides in 210 minutes of football and it was pleasing to see the opponents receive a standing ovation at the end, but also great to see Bassett into the next round where they will meet Almondsbury UWE.
Scoop's Old Man's Man of the Match: Sam Collier – Two goals and held ball up well.
Match Rating (using the famous Scoop scale): 9/10 – hard fought victory in a very entertaining game.
Last modified on Monday 22nd June 2015 at 23:38