Sunday 2nd February saw Royal Wootton Bassett Town Veterans invited to University of South Wales to continue the biannual fixture against the RAF FA Vets. The complex is also home to Cardiff City Academy and the game was played inside on the full size 4G pitch. Last year's home tie ended in a close 3-2 win for Bassett, so a tough combat was anticipated.
Bassett welcomed graduating elders Sam Collier and Steve Yeardley to the ranks and both fitted in seamlessly. In fact, it was Collier who opened the scoring before the game was minutes old. Jeremy Newton had already served notice with one surging run, and with the next his final ball found Collier running free to fire home clinically. Better was to ensue.
Inside ten minutes it was two. Gav Cook provided the thrust in midfield, then found Steve Shaw breaking free into the area. The lofted ball was flicked back to his strike partner Collier, who was on hand to rasp home a left foot drive. Bassett were in the groove, finding space out wide for Pete Wilson and Newton, backing up the front two spearheads.
Martin Ohrland was next in on the act. The midfielder broke through the RAF rear-guard, shimmied the goalkeeper and 'caressed' the ball to his opposite side to make it 3-0.
Bassett were playing with confidence, the back four strong and organised, with the calm and composed Bryan Watson coming in at right back and Martin Jefferies linking well with Newton on the left. Yeardley and Paul Davis, mentor and apprentice reunited at centre half, swallowed everything up that was thrown at them and were quick to distribute in transition. Paul Boys-Stones in goal was left a virtual frozen bystander, though he did well to react to one pot-shot and palm it round the post.
At times, Shaw, Collier and Newton were tormenting their opponents, Shaw missing with a one-on one and Collier racing through and (much to the well-placed Cook and Newton's chagrin) firing over.
No matter. More good work from 'Smithy' Shaw on the right led to a hanging cross from the touchline, which found Collier timing his leap expertly to head back past the 'keeper to the top corner. The RAF were dazed and confused, lacking the pace to cause Bassett problems at the back.
A fifth came before half-time from Jeffries. The left-back pounced on a clearance outside the area and fired in a shot that was deflected en-route. A fitting end to a show-stopping first half.
Bassett were expecting the RAF to receive a rocket and indeed they began the second half with renewed vigour. As Bassett slackened off their intensity, the home side wrestled control and went close very early on, only sloppy finishing letting Bassett off the hook. The RAF now had up-thrust and scored their first soon after, their number 10 Tommo pouncing on a loose ball in the area. It was enough to cause some consternation within the ranks. 5-1 was comfortable but a second for the RAF put the cat amongst the pigeons and panic started to spread.
The Vets, having made numerous changes throughout the second half, inevitably lost some of their shape that had been so strong in the first half. Also, their ball retention went AWOL and kept coming back at the defence. Yeardley received a caution for a scything challenge; Davis screamed for more composure. Substitute Wilma showed some good touches on the right and Bassett still carried a threat on the break, with Ben Gould also making a debut and going close with a right foot effort.
With 20 minutes to go RAF scored a third to make it 5-3 but in a strange way, Bassett became more composed. They battened down the hatches, put on the tin hats and rode out the bombardment. Bryan Wood and Paul Jack had come on to add nous and experience and, with some Boys-Stones saves and stout defending, the Vets held out to jet off into the sunset after a Herculean first-half effort.
Man of the Match: Hard to choose between the forward players, but the award goes to Sam Collier for leading the line and a clinical hat-trick.
Credit: Junior Striker
Last modified on Wednesday 22nd January 2020 at 10:10
