17 Mar 2013 - Malmesbury Youth (A)

Date of Match: 17 March 2013 Team/Age Group: Under 13s - Yellows Opponents: Malmesbury Youth (Away) Result: Lost 2-3 Scorer(s): Charlie Emmerson, Euan Burke

Wootton Bassett Yellows travelled to Malmesbury for their latest league game. Having comfortably beating Malmesbury earlier in the year hopes were high for the team to keep their 100% league record.

From the opening exchanges it became obvious that Malmesbury had improved greatly during the season. Their work rate and determination in the tackle probably surprised our boys and put us on the back foot.

Slowly Bassett got into the game and created a couple of chances. Firstly, Luke, Josh and Jamie to move the ball out of defence. Jamie found Euan whose ball over the Malmesbury defence was met on the run by Joe, the Malmesbury keeper making a good save. This attack was shortly followed by a Bassett corner which Callum floated into the 6 yard box. Ed was the first to react but unfortunately his header came back off the bar.

Bassett found themselves a goal behind on 11 minutes when following a strong tackle the ball broke to a Malmesbury midfield player and his first time ball caught the Bassett defence square, the Malmesbury forward running on to score with an accomplished finish.

Bassett were probably shading the game at this point and on 22 minutes nearly drew level when Jamie found Euan who in turn put Tom through on goal, the Malmesbury keeper, not for the first time, being alert and came off his line to clear the danger. Moments later another timely clearance from the Malmesbury keeper started a Malmesbury counter attack down the left wing. This drew the Bassett defence over to the ball and an early cross presented a great scoring opportunity for Malmesbury, luckily for Bassett the Malmesbury forward sliced his shot wide.

Soon after the Malmesbury keeper was called upon to make two saves in quick succession. The first followed a Callum corner which Jamie hit first time, the keeper stopping and holding the ball at point blank range. The second when Jamie put Charlie through, Charlie shot across the keeper but an outstretched hand pushed the ball away.

Malmesbury extended their lead on 29 minutes when a series of strong challenges in midfield saw the ball break through the Bassett defence. An unfortunate slip gifted the ball to the unmarked Malmesbury forward who knocked it into the open goal.

Bassett did pull a goal back before half time when a long Conor goal kick was picked up by Jamie who passed onto Tom and then Joe. Joe knocked the ball across the Malmesbury defence to Charlie who took one touch then fired the ball into the top corner.

Bassett almost drew level on the stroke of half time when Ben worked the ball through to Jamie who passed onto Joe. Joe cut in from the right and knocked the ball into the path of Callum, Callum's shot flying over the bar. Half-time: 1-2

If the last five minutes of the first half were full of action, the first five of the second half were more so. It was Malmesbury that started the quickest and within two minutes had extended their lead. A long throw was not dealt with and the ball bounced through the Bassett defensive line for the Malmesbury forward to scoop it over the advancing Conor and into the back of the net for his and Malmesbury's third.

Bassett struck back on their next attack when they were awarded a corner. Callum put the ball under the goal posts for Euan to head home from 3 yards. Two – three to Malmesbury with 30 minutes to play!

Without being at their best, Bassett did have more of the ball than their opponents but had lost their killer instinct in front of goal that we have seen throughout this season. On 44 minutes Tom, Joe and Ben combined to present a shooting chance for Euan which went narrowly wide. Seconds later Lewis W found Jamie who passed onto Euan. On this occasion, Euan's shot was well saved by the Malmesbury keeper. Just like in the first half, the woodwork proved the saviour of Malmesbury when a Charlie corner was headed onto the bar by Euan on 60 minutes.

Although slightly on the back foot, the pace and strength of Malmesbury was always a danger on the counter attack and on 55 minutes they almost scored their fourth when a quick break presented a scoring opportunity, the ball just going over the bar. Shortly after, Lewis C chased the ball to break up another promising Malmesbury attack. Lewis turned and passed through to Declan who flicked the ball into the path of Charlie who was bearing down on goal. Unfortunately the ball got caught up under Charlie's feet and was cleared before he could recover his balance to get a shot away.

With 10 minutes to go another Charlie corner was met by the head of Euan in the six yard box but once again the ball failed to lodge in the back of the Malmesbury as it squirted wide of the left hand post. Full-time: 2-3

Coach's Match Analysis: A game where we conceded poor goals and although we still created enough chances to get something out of the match we never really dug in as a team and that was our undoing. It's now time to stick together and start helping out our team mates and working hard. Hopefully this will act as a wake-up-call to everyone and we as coaches going forward.

Player of the Match: Strong tackling in midfield and always a threat when going forward, today's POTM award goes to Euan Burke.

Team: Conor Chivers, Edward Fish (Capt), Luke Weekes, Ben Croydon, Josh Curtis, Lewis Ward, Callum Bridges, Euan Burke, Jamie Byron, Tom Miller, Lewis Cholod, Charlie Emmerson, Joe Fenton, Declan Cox

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