11 Sep 2011 - Ferndale Rodbourne (H)

Wootton Bassett played host to Ferndale Rodbourne in the first match of the 2011/12 season. Following two pre-season friendly matches, one win one loss, no one knew what to expect from the boys.

Early signs were good with Bassett creating a couple of decent chances but it was Ferndale that settled to the 11-a-side game the first and were unlucky not to take the lead on 4 minutes. A break down the right ended with a good shooting opportunity which went inches wide of the far post. Bassett struggled to keep the ball during the first ten minutes and Ferndale were the more dangerous side. It took two excellent covering tackles from Edward to clear the ball as the fast and mobile Ferndale forwards threatened the Bassett goal.

Bassett's first shot came on 12 minutes when Callum's free kick went narrowly wide of the left hand post. Slowly Bassett found a little more time on the ball and started to exploit the space on the wings. The Bassett fullbacks James, Ollie, Matthew and Harry combined well with Callum and George in front of them. On 25 minutes a good save by Conor and quick release of the ball started a flowing move from one box to the other which ended with Lachlan's shot flying across the Ferndale goal.

A minute later Bassett won a corner. Callum delivered a fine cross right into the six yard box and under pressure the Ferndale defender headed the ball into his own net to make it one-nil Bassett.

Two minutes later Bassett went two up when Ollie took the ball away from a Ferndale player, laid a neat pass off to Zach, who dribbled past the last defender and side-footed the ball past the advancing keeper for a very cool finish.

Half-time: 2-0

Spurred on by the two late first half goals, Bassett started the second half where they finished the first. Straight from the kick off, Lewis took the ball through midfield and past out wide to George on the right. George crossed the ball back to Lewis who had continued his run, the ball just being cleared as Lewis was about to shoot.

Moments later, Bassett won a corner. Callum's cross was allowed to bounce in front of goal and a deflection off the Ferndale defender diverted the ball just inside the back post.

On 35 minutes, a Ferndale attack saw the forward get behind the Bassett defence but Conor was quickly off his line to make a good save at the feet of the Ferndale player. A big scramble in the Bassett box occurred from the resulting corner, the final shot being cleared off the line by Ollie.

Ferndale got a goal that they deserved on 45 minutes when a long ball from midfield went over the Bassett defence and the Ferndale forward ran past our last man and as the ball bounced up he headed the ball past the advancing Conor for a very accomplished finish.

Bassett attacked straight from the restart when Lewis found Callum. Callum passed onto Declan but his shot went just wide. A couple of minutes later, another smart move combining Lewis, Callum and Declan ended with Declan's shot being well saved by the Ferndale keeper. Lewis pounced on the loose ball but unfortunately his shot was cleared off the line by a covering defender.

The final quarter of the game saw the best football from both teams, with Ferndale exerting most of the pressure, Jordan, Charlie and Edward stood firm in the centre of the defence preventing any further clear cut chances on the Bassett goal.

Full-time: 3-1

Coach’s Match Analysis

A fantastic start to our 11 a-side venture with all 14 players putting in a terrific amount of hard work which was pleasing to see. The levels of fitness will only improve with each game. The lads did the basic things right and kept things simple which was what we as coaches asked of them. In our pre-season games we've looked shaky in both penalty areas from set plays but today we defended well and pressured our opponents in to conceding 2 own goals. Lots still to work on but the lads deserved their win today so well done and get ready for some hard work at training.

Player of the Match

A tough decision as there were several good performances. In the end the award was shared between the two stand-out players: Edward Fish for some excellent defending and impeccably timed covering tackles, and Lewis Ward, for getting the ball on the ground and playing some simple yet effective passes to link defence, wings and forward line.

Team

Conor Chivers, Matthew Nicholls, Edward Fish (Capt), Harry Woodhouse, Charlie Poynter, James Evans, Ollie Cameron, Jordan Langford, Declan Cox, Callum Bridges, Lewis Ward, Lachlan Beggs, Zach Bunce, George Staten

Last modified on Monday 22nd June 2015 at 23:39