24 Apr 2013 - Stanley Park Youth (N)
For the third time since the squad came together we found ourselves at another final; this time the Wiltshire FA U13 County Cup. After the disappointment of being runners up in the North Wilts League cup in 2009 and 2011, we hoped to go the one stage further this time but standing between us and the cup were our opponents, the seemingly unstoppable Stanley Park.
The opening few minutes of the fixture saw both sides trying to settle with a fairly even share of the possession, but in terms of setting out their intentions, Stanley Park were the most direct with three shots at the Bassett goal with our boys yet to trouble the Stanley Park keeper. Inevitably, it was this success in getting shots off at goal that was to pay off for Stanley Park, as a half-hearted attempt from within the box was misread by the Bassett keeper under difficult pitch conditions and it was a relatively simple tap in to put Stanley Park one up.
Whilst Bassett did enjoy periods of possession that looked like they would bear fruit it always seemed that Stanley Park had the players back to defend well and turn the pressure back on Bassett and it was just before 15 minutes that a long range shot with accuracy and power from outside the 18 yards box took the slightest of deflections from a Bassett player sending the keeper the wrong way and the Stanley Park lead was doubled.
Despite going two down, Bassett were starting to relax and play some good football with Stanley Park looking like the boys were starting to trouble them although we were still not getting any shots off at goal. Both sides were starting to introduce their substitutes, Jordan making way for Kevin and the fresh legs were soon getting involved with and changing the game but there were few attempts on goal. The game was starting to get a little physical with the referee starting to pull play up for niggling fouls from both sides.
Half time and with Stanley Park two goals up we needed Bassett to calm themselves and look to get some traction in the second half.
Bassett kicked off the second half with Ash being replaced by James and Ollie making way for Jacob and immediately went on the attack and won a corner. This early pressure was short lived as, immediately after the corner, Stanley Park mounted a counter attack and with less than a minute on the clock they were three goals up - Bassett had it all to do now. Another Bassett substitution saw Rhys replace Ewan. Despite having a hill to climb, the boys never looked like giving up and if anything, Stanley Park were easing off - this was very evident when with fourteen minutes of the second half played, Stanley Park made a four player substitution with, a few minutes later, Bassett making a double substitution with Jayden and Razer making way for Jordan and Ash. We now saw Bassett beginning to create some real chances, Ash heading over from a corner and Kevin shooting just wide of the left post. Despite this increasing pressure, Bassett were still threatened by Stanley Park with Frosty making a crucial goal line clearance.
Finally the shot we knew was in the team came from Jordan just outside of the 18 yard box with a screamer of a shot that forced an acrobatic save from the Stanley Park keeper to concede a corner. Another Bassett substitution saw Oliver replaced with Ollie for the last ten minutes of the fixture and despite Stanley Park having seen a shot at goal from another free kick conceded on the edge of the 18 yards box rise over the bar, it was Bassett who were determined to make their mark on the final few minutes but there was to be one more heartbreak for Bassett, a long ball up the field was well controlled by a Stanley Park player and with Callum rushing out to deal with the threat, the Stanley Park player coolly lofted the ball over the Callum and into the net to make it four goals to nil right on 70 minutes. Stanley Park held on for the final minutes of added time with Bassett attacking with four or five chances failing to hit their target and net Bassett the consolation goal they certainly deserved.
Stanley Park were undoubtedly deserved winners of this competition, with a strong display on the night although the score-line flattered them somewhat. And with them almost certain to be runaway winners of U13 Division One in North Wilts plus a place in the League Cup final against Bristol FDC in May - the treble is very much on for them. For our boys, there is some small consolation in their treble of runners-up medals.
Last modified on Monday 22nd June 2015 at 23:39
