After unprecedented events in 2020 it was with great joy that the youth football season started again on September 6th and the sunshine welcomed Bassett to Fairford for their first ever competitive league fixture. The Blues had a busy Summer transfer window and splashed over £300m bringing in new players Bryan Willson, Elliot Tew, Lucas Burberry and Stanley Perry, adding real strength in key areas.

Bassett started well and launched several quick attacks in the opening exchanges, only to see their efforts brilliantly saved by the Fairford stopper. As the first quarter progressed though, Fairford fought their way into it and showed great determination and skill to apply pressure on the Bassett goal, but were thwarted by defensive duo Summer Jones and Austin Tanner, who both made a number of critical blocks and tackles. Indy Iles-Jones who was donning the gloves for the first time since the 17/18 season, showed why he once held the nickname "The Cat" as he made some excellent saves to keep the game scoreless.

The game seasawed back and forth, but as the first quarter entered its last minutes, Bassett broke the deadlock. Some lovely build up play down the right hand side saw debutant Stanley Perry lay the ball off for the onrushing William Smith who fired an absolute rocket into the top left corner to put the Blues 1-0 up.

As Fairford reeled from going behind against the run of play, Bassett grabbed another as a Phanuel Asenso corner from the right hand side was swept into the box, past the dummy run of Tew who made an excellent near post dart, and straight into the path of Liam Lye-Owens who despatched a wonder volley straight into the roof of the net to make it 2-0. This quick double salvo from the Blues really fired them up and they started the 2nd quarter how they ended the first and it wasn't long before they added a third. Great pressing by Burberry forced the opposition defender into a dangerous pass across the penalty box, only for Theo Slade, who was simply unplayable throughout an impressive performance, to pounce, intercept the pass, round the keeper and tap in for 3-0.

It was soon 4-0 when Rhys Poulton sold his marker with a sublime Cruyff turn that fooled most of the players on the pitch, raced into the box, pulled it back for Tew who side footed towards the bottom corner, only for it to be saved, with the rebound dropping back at Poulton's feet who calmly tucked in. Bassett were never fully in control though and Fairford constantly looked dangerous going forward, so it was no surprise when they pulled a goal back as a cross that was whipped in, ricocheted around the box, before the opposition striker found half a yard to sneak the ball past Iles-Jones. This goal before the half time break rejuvenated Fairford and they poured the pressure on in the 3rd quarter. The Blues hit them on the break though to extend their lead as Asenso pressed the defence up high, won the ball on the right hand side and lasered a strike across goal into the bottom left corner. Fairford struck back immediately though as they first pressed high themselves, won possession and smashed in from close range, before winning a very controversial penalty and converting it to make it 5-3.

Fairford might have got themselves level if it hadn't been for the excellent defensive coverage of Willson who made a number of well timed interceptions during an impressive debut, and Finley Marchment who had a superb game throughout, winning tackles and breaking up play.

In amongst the chaos Perry was forced off with a recurring knee injury following a fantastic start to his Blues career and Bassett had to shuffle things around to regain some measure of control. Bassett were really struggling to stamp their authority on the game though, so it was some relief when Sonny Parmaku's square pass slipped by a midfielder and reached Lye-Owens, who drove forward, beat his man on the outside and squeezed a toe poke from a tight angle in off the far post.

Bassett then produced the moment of the game as they put together a passing move involving a number of players and one touch passing which ended with Asenso playing a cute through ball which Lye-Owens left for the overlapping Smith to smash in for his second and Bassett's 7th. Smith then returned the favour as he strode out of defence and played a long raking forward pass to Asenso who rolled his marker on halfway, drove into the opposition half and calmly stroked the ball over the onrushing keeper into the top right corner.

This passage of play seemed to suck the energy out of the opposition and Bassett managed to add a 9th when Poulton pressed high up and forced a turnover, which Parmaku latched onto before smashing home a powerful strike at the near post.

Whilst the Blues rode their luck at times and will be certainly looking to improve as the season progresses, they will be thrilled with 3 points on their league debut against determined opposition.

Tew collected the "Player of the Match" award for a superb display of positional discipline, communication and game control in the heart of midfield, whilst Lye-Owens took the "Legendary Leader" certificate for delivering key goals at crucial times and Smith secured the "Pass Master" accolade for some excellent decision making in both attacking and defensive situations.

Credit: Nick Lye-Owens
Last modified on Monday 7th September 2020 at 13:17