17 Apr 2013 - Shrivenham and Watchfield (A)

Date of Match: 17 April 2013 Team/Age Group: Under 13s - Yellows Opponents: Shrivenham & Watchfield (Away) Result: Won 4-1 Scorer(s): Charlie Emmerson, Lewis Cholod, Joe Fenton (2)

An extremely windy evening and a pitch more suitable for the 9-a-side format of youth football welcomed the Bassett Yellows as they travelled in the manic ruch hour traffic to Shrivenham & Watchfield for their latest league fixture. The conditions were going to prove testing and keeping the ball on the pitch would be a skill in itself!

And what a mockery the boys made of these conditions on their very first attack. Ben, Tom and Lewis C combined on the right with some neat short passing. Lewis played the ball in field to Jamie and continued his run down the right to receive Jamie's inch perfect pass behind the S&W full back. Lewis cut the ball across goal and Charlie was on hand to slam it home from 6 yards.

This ideal start was soon followed by a very nervy moment for Bassett when the S&W goalkeeper punted his clearance down field. On the wind, the ball sailed over the Bassett defence and bounced over Conor and luckily over the bar too. To give a feel for the size of the pitch, Bassett's next chance came from a free kick just inside the S&W half. Luke's pile driver against the wind was still rising as the S&W goalkeeper made a good save to keep the ball from going into the top corner.

Bassett doubled their lead on 14 minutes when Josh and Callum combined on the left and the ball was played between the two S&W central defenders. A mix up in communication left both defenders and the goalkeeper stranded whilst Lewis C ran through to seize the opportunity and knock the ball into the open goal from the edge of the box.

On 17 minutes the S&W launched another goal kick at the Bassett net, this time the same thing happened but the bounce was slightly less and the ball landed on the roof of the net. Was it going to be third time lucky??? We didn't have long to wait to find out, on the goal keepers next kick the ball bounced over the Bassett defensive line but was heading wide of the post but a great overhead kick by the extremely skilful and quick S&W forward sent the ball across goal and inches wide of the right hand post. Half-time: 2-0

Playing with the wind second half Bassett looked to consolidate their lead and push on for more goals. With just of 5 minutes of the half played, a Bassett corner was cleared towards the halfway line. Lewis W collected the ball and passed out right to George. George crossed to Tom and an interchange of passes with Jamie and then a shot saw the ball strike a S&W arm as it headed goal wards. Joe stood up to take the pen which went wide of the left hand post.

This blow to Bassett was soon followed by another as S&W drew a goal back. A long free kick from the S&W forward and an extremely rare error by Conor meant the ball ended up in the back of the Bassett net.

Bassett almost regained their two goal advantage straight from the kick off as Euan caught the S&W keeper off his line and shot from his own half. Unfortunately, the quick thinking wasn't rewarded as the ball drifted narrowly over the bar.

Despite much of the play it was not until the 60th minute until Bassett did score again. Content for a throw in, the S&W defender was happy to watch the ball go over the touchline just inside his half. But the defender hadn't allowed for the pace and tenacity of Joe!! Joe burst passed and kept the ball in play then advanced towards goal. A drop of the shoulder, first one way and then the next and Joe had beaten both centre backs. The calmest of finishes, knocking the ball past the advancing keeper was a superb end to this marvellous show of individual skill.

S&W came straight back at Bassett and a long free kick was bravely saved by Conor, showing that his early slip hadn't affected him.

Bassett made it 4-1 when a long clearance by Ed bounced on the edge of the S&W box and as it fell, Joe, with his back to goal, swivelled and hooked the ball just inside the post. Full-time: 4-1

Coach's Match Analysis: So many times this season I've stood on the sidelines in awe of the passing football played by the lads and would have gladly paid money to watch. In any sport you sometimes have to play the weather and conditions and adapt to different ways teams play and the size of the pitch. That was what was so rewarding tonight. To watch how the lads did these to win the game against a team who battled for every ball and certainly looked far better than their league position would have you believe. A superb display from all 14 players!

Player of the Match: On a night that needed a team performance to overcome the opposition and the conditions all players stood up to the mark and so the POTM award goes to all the boys.

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

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