20 Nov 2011 - Blunsdon Colts (H)

On this crisp and sunny November morning, hopes were high that Bassett could build on the many positives of last week's defeat against the league leaders and start to show what they are really capable of. The early signs were good, with a number of crunching tackles from Matt and others, such as Zach and Callum, starting to pass and move. Olly and Brad also produced some neat interplay over on the right wing and Blunsdon were unable to make their pressure tell beyond a couple of hopeful long shots. Callum then produced our first meaningful effort shortly before a mix up in the Bassett box almost gifted our visitors their first goal.

The game then developed into a pretty even contest with neither side looking likely to score. Callum was having yet another good game, battling forward whenever possible and tracking back to make some crucial interceptions. Ed and Lewis, too, showed many moments of coolness under pressure with Jordan also catching the eye with his tenacious tackling on various Blunsdon attackers.

Bassett then had their best chance to go ahead when a high, looping shot from Lewis could only be parried by the Blunsdon ‘keeper ending at the feet of Dec whose own shot hit the post only for Callum to pick up the loose ball and have an excellent shot saved. At the other end, Connor was having another superb game, making a series of excellent saves including one from a dangerous-looking Blunsdon free-kick. Harry and Matt continued to put in some crucial tackles and Ed remained a calming influence throughout. Further shots at the other end towards half time from Dec, Callum and Brad unfortunately came to nothing, with effective defending seeming to snuff out much of our good work and the half ended goal-less. Half Time: 0 – 0

Bassett seemed to take a while to get going after the re-start and an early chance from Blunsdon whistled past the post, giving a warning that wasn't, perhaps, properly heeded. Moments later a defence splitting ball put a Blunsdon forward in on goal and Connor was given no chance: 0 – 1.

This set-back rocked our lads on their heels and before they could re-group, a cruel twist of fate led to a questionable penalty being awarded for a foul in the box not more than 5 minutes later. This was despatched to leave Bassett feeling the game was beginning to slip away from them despite all of their excellent first half play: 0 – 2. To their credit, the Bassett lads then started to make an impact with James showing some solid defence play on the right and searching forward whenever he could. The next goal was going to be critical and it was, sadly, Blunsdon that scored it from a pass that skimmed through our defence to find an attacker who simply couldn't miss. George now began to work effectively up and down the wing and Zach and Lewis began to win more balls as reward for their battling approach. But Lady Luck seemed to have cancelled the milk and gone away for the weekend, as a harmless-looking attack down the right saw the ball landing kindly at the feet of a Blunsdon player who was able to put his team-mate in to slide a cruel fourth past a despairing Connor: 0 – 4

With the game now effectively beyond them, Bassett had their best spell of play and finally put their opponents under sustained pressure. Jordan battled for the ball wherever he possibly could, Callum danced down the left and George and Zach combined well down the right, but our chances were still pretty limited, only a shot from James giving a moment's concern to the Blunsdon ‘keeper. The Blunsdon defence always seemed to be straight onto any loose ball and they tackled well, leaving our lads frustrated but never willing to give up the fight.

The final score was not a fair reflection of Bassett's many moments of encouraging play, but at least we have the chance to put the record immediately straight when we visit our opponents at their place next week. Final score: 0 – 4

Team: Team: Connor Chivers, Charlie Poynter, Matt Nicholls, Edward Fish, James Evans, George Staten, Callum Bridges, Zach Bunce, Lewis Ward, Dec Cox, Olly Cameron,, Jordan Langford, Harry Woodhouse, Brad Sealey

Man of the match: Lewis Ward In a testing match, Lewis never gave up his all action and intelligent approach in midfield leading his team-mates by example. He was unlucky not to score from a searching shot that, on another day, would have had a ‘keeper floundering.

Coach's Comments: The phrase “game of two halves” has often been used in football but this was a match so true to those words. Our performance in the first half was the complete opposite of the second half. It would be easy to carry on with these thoughts but I'm certain that every player tries as hard as they can. The one thing that they're suffering from is lack of confidence and a little good fortune. It would be wrong to say the penalty award to Blunsdon was soft and we were denied an even more blatant one but that's what happens when you're struggling for a result. It's a time for us to stick together as a group.

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