02 Feb 2014 - Highworth Town Juniors 'T' (H)

The Whites eventually get to play their first game of 2014, in fact their first game since 8th December (!), due to the multiple postponements for inclement weather and waterlogged pitches. This afternoon is cold, although a little milder than the past few days. Rain the previous day has left the surface heavy but playable and the sun is shining !

The game starts evenly with both sides having some possession but without making any impact.

Then, only a few minutes into the game, Wootton Bassett win a throw in on the right. Harry G takes a long throw to Mo who controls nicely, and then combines well with debutant Sam down the right, keeping possession with some neat passing. Sam finds Brad out to his left and Brad moves the ball through the Highworth defence with a well weighted ball to Zach breaking through. Zach slots the ball under the advancing keeper to give Bassett an early lead.

Bassett 1 – 0

Highworth attack straight from the restart and put pressure on the Whites defence. Highworth win a corner which is well delivered into the box. Bassett can't clear and the ball ricochets around the penalty area until eventually falling to a Highworth player in a bit of space who is able to fire his shot passed a diving Daniel to level the scores.

Bassett 1 – 1

Harry M picks up the ball deep in his own half and feeds it to Kyle near halfway. Kyle makes a nice turn and spots Mo outside and plays a though ball. Mo is faster than the Highworth defender and beats him to the ball and his resulting shot brings a fine save from the Highworth keeper.

Highworth come back at Bassett, breaking down the left with a swift passing move. They work their way in to the box and the resulting shot beats Daniel and looks goalbound but is cleared off the line by James.

Nial picks up the ball and, after a neat run, finds Kieran out on the left with a great pass. Kieran delivers it down the line to Mo who is able cross into the danger area but the cross is intercepted by a Highworth defender and the ball is cleared upfield.

Highworth attack through the middle and a player breaks through and steps around Daniel as he rushes out to intercept, but Daniel catches the attacker as he goes by and unfortunately brings the player down. The referee has no hesitation in giving the penalty but Daniel makes a great save to prevent Highworth taking the lead.

A Bassett goal kick goes out to Ross on the left. Ross controls well, has a look up, and makes a super pass through to Kyle on the move at speed. Highworth intercept and clear, but only as far as Harry G who shoots back at goal, from range, forcing the Highworth keeper into another save.

Highworth are on the attack again and a midfielder chips the ball over the Wootton Bassett defence to a forward racing through but Daniel is alert and bravely dives at the feet of the onrushing attacker to prevent his shot.

Highworth break down their right and break tackles to get to the edge of the Bassett box. The shot / cross loops over Daniels hands but is just wide of goal.

Half Time - Wootton Bassett White 1 Highworth Town Juniors T 1

Straight from the restart Brad and Harry G link up well and then find Kyle out left. Kyle makes a nice run and delivers a ball over the top to Kieran ahead in space. Kieran twists and turns, trying to keep possession under pressure from several Highworth defenders until Kyle arrives to help out, but the ball is cleared out of play.

Kieran and Kyle combine again down the left and Kyle cuts inside to make room for a shot. The shot is saved by the Highworth keeper but he can't hold it and it spills out to Jack racing in from the right. But the keeper recovers enough to be able to save Jacks shot too.

Bassett go forward again and Kyle delivers a clever shipped ball over the Highworth defenders to Mo and Sam running in. Mo gets there and gets his shot off but it skews just wide of the right hand post.

There is a really nice passage of one-touch play between Sam, Mo, and Kyle down the right, moving the ball into the Highworth box without the Highworth defence getting a look in. Mo finishes off the superb move with a great shot to beat the diving Highworth keeper.

Bassett 2 – 1

Highworth break at speed and break tackles making their way upfield. The attacker makes room for a shot but Daniel deflects it and Harry M is able to clear.

Highworth come straight back at Bassett again. The cross in from the left is tantalisingly just out of Dan's reach and the Bassett defence can't clear the ball further than the edge of the box. The ball is scrambled around the area but is eventually touched over the line by a Highworth foot for their equaliser.

Bassett 2 – 2

Shortly after the restart Highworth break with a long ball over the middle. It was really close, but the attacker must have only just been onside but he is through one-on-one with Daniel and slots home to give Highworth the lead for the first time in the match.

Bassett 2 – 3

Jack picks up the ball in midfield and starts an attack, neatly side-stepping defenders and breaking tackles. A nice pass to Mo just inside but his shot is well saved.

Jack again, running with the ball, has both Mo and Sam alongside him. Mo makes the break and Jack delivers a super through-ball to Mo who this time beats the keeper to bring the scores back level again.

Bassett 3 – 3

Wootton Bassett win the ball back again and it is fed out to Ross out on the right. Ross makes a tidy little run and slides a great ball down the line to Jack who's shot from the right-hand hand edge of the box goes into the side netting.

As the minutes run down Highworth are trying to push forward again, but James makes a well timed tackle to win the ball back for the Whites. He passes nicely to Kyle in space who can run and deliver the perfect pass to Mo racing through again. Mo takes the ball in his stride and fires home for his hat-trick and Bassett's winner !

Bassett 4 – 3

Result - Wootton Bassett White 4 Highworth Town Juniors T 3

Coaches Comments : A great game hard fought after such a long wait. The win was just deserved and again more proof that the boys are improving as a team and turning early season defeats into draws and wins. Well done Mo on a hat-trick but equally well done all for the support play across the whole field.

Wootton Bassett Whites : Zach Bunce (1), Muhammed Cham (3), James Evans (Capt), Kieran Gorman, Harry Griffin, Jordan Langford, Jack Large, Ross Leahy, Kyle Legg, Harry Melling, Sam Murby, Brad Sealey, Nial Wright, Daniel York

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