26 Jan 2014 - North Bristol FDC (A)

Our first match since before Christmas and a long-distance drive in a worsening storm took us to the impressive 3G facility at the Wise Campus for a first meeting with North Bristol. It was to prove a very entertaining encounter, with both sets of players making the best of some appalling weather.

From the start, it was Bassett who were playing the football with some lovely passing moves opening up early chances. Callum nipping in from the left to test the enormous Bristol goalie and Joe narrowly missing after a superb ball from Dan had opened up the Bristol defence. It was not all one way traffic , but any threat from our hosts was dealt with well at the back by Ed, Dan, George and Zak, although we nearly conceded when a Bristol corner floated into the danger area and bounced around for a few dangerous seconds before being well cleared.

Our goal came out of a well worked free-kick which Callum hit into a crowded penalty area, the resulting confusion ending with Euan turning and firing in off a despairing defender to see us edge into a deserved lead: 1 - 0

Soon after this Bristol earned a free-kick of their own and it took a great header from Ed to clear the danger before we caused problems to our opponents through Tom whose strong shot following a flowing move was well saved by the Bristol 'keeper. A period of Bristol pressure followed and then, just as the half came to an end, we were reduced to ten men after Tom was given his marching orders and the game took on a different complexion as half-time talks got underway.

Half time: 1 - 0

To our lads credit, their reduced number barely affected their approach and, if anything, we looked even more dominant as the second half developed. The sharp passing game they have worked on in training could have dropped away in these conditions but, far from it, they all worked hard to do the right thing. We nearly grabbed a second from a corner but a Bristol head cleared the ball off the line and it bounced to safety.

Euan battled for the ball in the middle, sent the ball through to Lewis whose shot was well saved before Jamie did the same, this time Lewis' shot just whistling wide. With further shots from both Euan and Callum it looked as though we would soon have the game safe but it just never quite happened.

Our hosts then had their best chance of the match, but the ball flew high over the bar and then, with the clock running down, Bristol fell foul of the ref themselves and the second red of the match was flourished. It was a tense end for us as we feared an unlikely equaliser but Bassett saw the game out to post a deserved victory after what was a dramatic and extremely wet morning of football.

Man of the match: Many players are deserving of the award today. It was truly a team performance, with everyone always looking to assist their teammates by closing down the opposition in all areas and making sure there was always someone on hand to pick up any ball that was lost. In truly awful weather, they also kept trying to play passing football and, as a result, got a deserved victory.

Coach's comment A 3rd win on the trot was what the boys deserved as they put in their best footballing performance of the season.We are lucky enough as coaches to watch them train on the astro each week & see how they pass the ball around, but to be able to see it in a match on the superb 3G surface was worth getting wet.The boys also learnt a lesson that no matter what you think of a decision by match officials you will only get yourself in trouble by voicing an opinion & it's important that lesson is learnt as they progress in football.Well done lads.

Team: Callum Bridges, Euan Burke ,Jamie Byrom (capt.), Edward Fish, Lewis Cholod, Joe Fenton, Conor Chivers,Tom Miller, Daniel Hulse, George Staten, Josh Curtis, Zach Robinson

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