Royal Wootton Bassett Town Under 14 Blue stun Greenmeadow Youth 9-1
After a hiatus of nearly seven months Royal Wootton Bassett Town Under 14 Blue will have sent shockwaves through North Wilts League Division Two following an incredible 9-1 victory at home to Greenmeadow Youth.
For many seasons Greenmeadow have played at the summit of Wiltshire football and few would have made Bassett favourites coming into the opening games of the season.
For the early part of the first half a tight game looked likely until Bassett produced what must be one of the most remarkable 25 minutes of football ever seen at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground to effectively put the result beyond doubt.
Bassett could have easily trailed following the opening exchanges, a remarkable Louis Portlock smothered save on the line kept the game goalless. Shortly after it was his defensive partner Mikey Lynch who was to give Bassett the lead, rising highest following a Thomas Nicholls looped header the imperious Lynch planted the header into the corner of the goal giving the 'keeper no chance.
Beau Hicks continued to ask questions of the Greenmeadow defence all afternoon and as Bassett started to exert more pressure Sam Smith was the first to react from a corner flicking a deft header into the bottom corner.
At 2-0 the game still felt finely poised, however it was in the last 25 minutes of the first half that the game was transformed. A smart layoff from Nicholls saw Ed Greenouff claim his opening goal with a powerful finish, this was followed shortly after with Ed's second of the afternoon following great work from Hicks. Greenouff's third from distance capped a dazzling exchange of passes which had started deep in the Bassett half.
Buoyed by success Bassett were now relentless. Smith showed remarkable strength to shrug off the Greanmeadow defence following a Caden Jefferies free kick to add Bassett's sixth. Ed Greenouff broke free to slot home is fourth goal before Greenmeadow claimed one back. As the team left the pitch at half time the jubilant home crowd could barely believe what they had just witnessed.
The second half was a more measured affair. Smith completed his hat trick with a smart header before Nicholls claimed a thoroughly deserved goal, pouncing on a loose ball to make no mistake with the finish.
Dan Seedall performed very strongly on his home debut and credit to both Fin Hyde for managing to hit the inside of both posts in quick succession and goalkeeper Tom Davis who produced a series of smart stops to come to the rescue of the Bassett team as energy levels dropped toward the end of the game.
After the match newly appointed captain Ed Greenouff was full of praise for the fantastic team effort. A visibly stunned Martin Jefferies described the performance as phenomenal and he will be clearly hoping this marks the beginning of a strong promotion challenge.
MOTM was Ed Greenouff for his work rate and goals
Credit: Martin Jefferies
Last modified on Sunday 6th September 2020 at 19:15
