21 Apr 2013 - Wickham Wanderers (A)

After a drive up the M4 to Hungerford, Bassett found themselves on yet another challenging pitch to face a determined Wickham side who were clearly up for the fight. With their vociferous goalie captain urging them on, our hosts showed some early threat and a couple of attacks had to be snuffed out - the game soon dropped into an end to end encounter where everyone had to be alert. Much uncertainty was created by a very bouncy pitch and Bassett found it hard to get their passing going. We looked dangerous nevertheless and a lovely corner was floated over by Callum, just begging for a head to nod it in before a couple of shots at our own goal showed that the defence would have to stay alert.

Some lovely interchanges between Charlie, Tom and Jamie down the right promised much and Callum and George overlapping each other down the left showed equal threat and it was down this wing that a move led to our vital breakthrough. Callum battled to slide the ball out to George who whipped in a tremendous low cross that had the Wickham defence in all sorts of trouble allowing Tom to control the ball and slam it into the corner of the net: 1 - 0

Luke and Ed were now called into more action as Wickham were stung into further attacks down the sloping pitch with every ball forward bouncing unpredictably and making defending really tricky. Josh, too, had to be alert and put in some tremendous tackles and interceptions. Now came a golden chance for us to double our lead, however, after Tom pressed again up the right, slipped the ball to Charlie who bounded forward launching a shot that slanted right across the goal , ending just agonisingly wide with Callum just inches away from turning back into the net.

Half-time: 1 - 0

After just a couple of seconds, Lewis C danced through the defence and drew a foul with Euan's free- kick only finding the goalie's midriff. After this, there was a frustrating period of play that turned into throw-in practice for Bassett as the ball was repeatedly turned over the line by a Wickham team determined to stop Bassett's rhythm. Despite all the lads fighting hard, it was tricky to find space to make any impression and chances were few and far between, the Wickham 'keeper gathering anything that did come through very comfortably.

Then Jamie took up the challenge and brilliantly dribbled through a series of players, none of whom could catch him down the right wing- only a cynical foul stopping his progress. The resulting free-kick from Charlie found Ed's head and a follow up shot from Jamie was smothered in a crowded penalty area.

Our lads really started to battle for all areas now and Wickham could not get out of their half. Some lovely flicks and tricks from Lewis C, Dec and Charlie nearly opened them up but our frustration continued - one goal still not really looking enough. Joe twisted and turned and sent in a delightful cross for Charlie before Lewis fashioned his own chance and skewed one just wide, but that second goal just wouldn't come. Wickham had few chances but our hearts were in our mouths with minutes left when a hopeful ball forward caught our lads a bit flat-footed and Luke only just managed to poke it out for a corner.

Wickham had few chances but our hearts were in our mouths with minutes left when a hopeful ball forward caught our lads a bit flat-footed and Luke only just managed to poke it out for a corner. With the clock running down, Bassett got their just reward as Euan powered through several tackles and slid the ball out to Joe who made space down the right and sent over a fantastic cross for Dec to slam home from a few yards out to finally put the game to bed: 2 - 0

Full-time: 2 – 0

Man of the match: The award today goes to Charlie who typified the team's spirit today – full of running and always looking to break forward dangerously to put the pressure back onto our hosts.

Coach comment: Another resilient performance from the boys as they secured a 10th clean sheet of the season & a hard fought win. Wickham worked very hard & the boys stood up to everything they threw at us. Again we never played our best football but the win was well earned & deserved.

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

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