24 Apr 2013 - Wroughton Youth (H)
This crucial top of the table clash drew a large number of family and friends , all of them eager to see which of these talented sides would come out on top. If Bassett lost tonight, their title challenge was surely over - if they won, then the fight would go on.
It was Wroughton who looked the livelier as the game got underway , with searching balls being launched forward for their strong forwards to run onto. With the game just minutes old, a lob narrowly floated over Conor's bar and soon after this a clever through ball from our visitors was intercepted by Ed and cleared well.
We soon started to show a forward threat ourselves, though, and Tom began to hold the ball up well with Charlie busying himself down the left. In fact, it was this combination that led to our first shot with Tom shooting narrowly wide.
Our confidence grew and a lovely through ball from Callum saw Lewis narrowly miss with a lob before an immediate chance fell to Wroughton that, yet again, they couldn't convert.
A corner from Callum nearly led to a goal, with confusion amongst the visiting defence causing the ball to rattle round the box like a pinball - no Bassett player could take advantage though.
Bassett's pressure now grew, but the final shots couldn't quite find their mark with the Wroughton keeper not really tested. Drama followed, however, when a harmless looking challenge left the visiting 'keeper injured and having to leave the field of play - a capable reserve pulling on a shirt to see the game out.
There was time for further delightful play from our lads, looking to play their football with several great interchanges including most players. A Euan shot led to a goalie fumble that no one could quite follow up but the half ended goalless.
Half-time: 0 - 0
With a couple of changes at the interval, Bassett looked to pick up where they had left off but no one could have thought the deserved goal would come quite so quickly! George passed if rom the left wing into Lewis who , in turn, passed to Joe who launched a powerful shot that the goalie couldn't hang onto enabling Tom to pounce on the resulting fumble to power the ball home from inches out - 1: 0
This early goal stunned our visitors but they now launched a series of powerful attacks and it was only through fantastic defending that they were frustrated - josh caught the eye on a number of occasions with well-timed interceptions that snuffed out danger. Ed, Luke and Ben also showing enormous composure as the pressure mounted.
It still looked as if Bassett would be the more likely scorers, however, with chance after chance being created for Tom, Joe and Luke. Only fantastic saves from the back-up 'keeper and shots that narrowly missed over the top and to left and right left the score at a single goal. Dec headed a George corner just over the bar and the tension mounted, with a single strike from Wroughton still likely to ruin our chance of winning the league.
Euan went down injured, last gasp tackles went in all over the pitch from both sides and we begged the ref. to blow for time. When he did, the score still stood at a single Bassett goal and a deserved victory was ours.
Full-time: 1 - 0
Man of the match:
Another fantastic performance from our midfield maestro who pulled all the strings, defending and attacking with equal vigour - man of the match today goes to Jamie Byrom.
Coach's analysis:
This group of lads never fail to surprise me as they turned in another fantastic performance in terms of ability, work rate & team spirit to gain a deserved win. We asked them to try a new formation & they looked like they'd play it all season. With promotion now in the bag the boys have achieved so much but we still have 3 cup finals to go so feet need to be firm on the floor. Well done boys.
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, Lewis Ward
Last modified on Monday 22nd June 2015 at 23:39
