Bassett met Bassett, with Bassett running out convincing winners on Tuesday night on the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground 4G. The Development squad invited their older predecessors to lock horns and then put them to the sword with some ruthless second half finishing.
The first half was a relatively even affair, the Developers establishing good continuity on the ball but the Veterans offering a threat when they attacked. The Development team had snatched at two early chances in the first five minutes when the Veterans took the lead. Pressing in midfield led to Steve Shaw cutting out a pass and finding Justin Hyde. His instant through-ball saw Steve Howse striding into the area and a drilled left-foot finish gave the keeper no chance.
The lively Jeremy Newton came close to giving the Veterans an instant second but found a defender in the way of his goalbound finish. Naïve defending then shot the Veterans in the foot as dilly-dallying with the ball along the back line allowed Josh Bolton to nip in and rifle past Paul Boys-Stones to make it 1-1.
Shaw and Cook looked to rally the troops, with Cook reprising his Saturday Waggon loudness (should have been barred). Jack covered well as the Development team passed and probed, and they took a lead when their nippy 17-year-old Number 11 drifted onto the end of a cross to tap in. The youngsters were on top, hitting a post soon after but on twenty minutes the Veterans equalised. Newton had just seen a well-controlled half-volley tipped over after a searching Parr cross and his resulting corner found the magnificent bonce of Howse, who powered home from eight yards.
Despite the Veterans being level, the Development squad were controlling play, with quick movement off the ball, not allowing the Veterans to impose any physicality, although Martin Jeffries was one of the few quick enough into the challenges. The Veterans' shape was continually pulled to uncomfortable places, and they were also under pressure as soon as they were in possession. Slack defending allowed the Development team in again and they made no mistake to take a 3-2 lead.
Boys-Stones made a good save after this, and the Veterans would have been pleased to be 3-2 down at half-time having competed well and shown danger on the break. However, going to sleep at a corner cost them dearly, with the ball trickling its way through and somehow finding the far corner.
Paul Davis mixed sharp analytical prowess with positivity at the break, and with a rejigging of the shape and a breather after forty minutes, the Veterans started the second half well. Newton, now playing behind the front two,, saw a good strike deflected wide, and corners continued to look a likely route to goal. But midfield ground was being conceded and again the shape came under strain.
After ten minutes the Veterans' legs were getting heavier and keeping the ball proved harder and harder. Credit must go to the Development team who were moving the ball rapidly and intercepting regularly. Jacko admired one piece of defending for too long unaware the ball had been played back to him, and Cinquegrani was making himself and everyone giddy with too many Cruyff turns!
The next goal was key and it went to the Development side, a fine break down the left and a delicious ball in for 11 to finish again. The Devs celebrated as if they knew this was the killer blow. Heads sagged, passes went astray and the energy sapped, and the youngsters took advantage. A few substitutions and they went on to make it 6-2, 7-2, 8-2…. incisive passing, great crossing and clinical finishing made it a painful end. The final whistle was a relief.
The Development squad showed great potential, most players in the 16-19 range, and, not surprisingly against a team averaging 43ish, passed and ran us to defeat. The Veterans can take hope from the fact that sloppy defending handed three goals to the opposition in the first half, which would have made things a lot more interesting. Next time, maybe?
Man of the Match is awarded to Martin Jeffries for standing up, putting his tackles in and never being found wanting.
Pink Pony could have gone to Gav Cook for his foul throw, prompting a PD utterance of, "I didn't think that was still a rule!". But it has to go to Martin Ohrland for two thunderous clearances into Cook's anatomy and finally remembering we play in blue, with only minutes to go.
Credit: Junior Striker
Last modified on Wednesday 15th August 2018 at 18:58
