WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 22ND OCTOBER 2016
BASHLEY 4 VERWOOD TOWN 0

A couple of minutes into the game had Elsom making a strong tackle to prevent a cross from Bashley’s left flank. Elsom saw Ryan Kelly free and a slide rule pass gave opportunity for a quick counter. Kelly rounded a marker and chipped the full back to free Cane. Cane’s run was halted by a sliding tackle taking player and ball over the touch line.

Stroud took a high ball in the box and a line throw to Eaton put us back in Bashley’s third. A cross, found Dyer, on to Cane a cut back and Dyer raced in to fire wide.

Then we buckled after 12 minutes allowing a simple threaded ball to find it’s way through for a runner. A good turn and left foot shot put Bashley ahead 0-1.

4 minutes later Eaton suffered knee damage and had to make way for Bergin.

Pressure mounted as Bashley were allowed freedom in the middle of the park giving them an opportunity to produce some good football.

Donachy and Ben Kelly blocked a couple of central efforts and Stroud pulled off a great save preventing Bashley going further ahead.

18 minutes gone and a corner dropped onto the penalty spot. Donachy finally got a toe to it and flicked it wide to Johnson. Johnsons run down our left opened up space and a squared pass to Ryan Kelly allowed a Kelly rocket. The coat of varnish on top of the cross bar was smudged.

It was a brief spell that woke up Bashley. Dyer and Phelps worked hard to contain a good mid field with Smith picking up pieces.

28 minutes and we lapsed concentration. It was enough for Bashley to create a gap. A threaded pass should have been converted but luckily the effort flew high over the bar.

We hit back. Elsom and Bergin made ground but Bergin’s delivery into the middle was headed clear.

A Cane effort was safely gathered at the foot of the post by the keeper. The keeper’s drop kick was collected and re directed. An alert Stroud flipped the ball wide to clear.

38 minutes though a slick move down Bashley’s left finished with a run in the box. A narrow angled shot whipped up the net. 0-2.

Half Time 0-2

Bergin and Phelps worked the ball down the left. A switch inside gave Elsom a chance but the shot went inches over the bar.

10 minutes gone of the half and a well worked move through Bashley’s mid field opened up an opportunity. The ball finished up in the net as we gave space on the edge of the box. 0-3.

Elsom’s ankle problem had flared. A re adjustment to the shape was needed for a while and Bergin did an admirable job shuttling up and down the flank.

Johnson’s pace was a plus on the counter and a Johnson Cane combination on the left finished with a good shot but straight at the keeper.

Stroud made an exceptional save with 60 minutes on the clock fisting the ball off the line as players bore in.

Smith Dyer and Phelps got on top of their opposite numbers and with Ryan Kelly’s unselfish running we worked ourselves back in the game.

Our attacks were limp efforts and the keeper remained untroubled.

75 minutes and Johnson gave way for Kimber. Another slight shuffle in defence didn’t settle for a while and Bashley forced their way down the right with 76 minutes gone and a shot from the edge of the box was on target for the bottom corner. Stroud got a hand to it but the ball finished up in the net changing the score line to 0-4.

Full credit to the lads. No heads fell. We had to defend deeper and with Dyer’s industry coupled to Phelps and Smith’s tackling abilities we held firm.

Then came the highlight of the day. Kris Anderton struggled into our 16 shirt and came on for Martin Smith. It meant the Bashley players had to run a bit wider to get to the box. It was a smart substitution.

5 minutes left, Ryan Kelly closed down passing between Bashley’s backs and won a bounce. A switch to Cane and Cane delivered a low volley across the area. Kelly had followed in but was inches wide of touching the ball past the keeper.

In the closing minutes we had another chance of a goal when Dyer smashed a shot from 25 yards but the keeper took a clean catch at the foot of the post.

Bashley finished the game testing Stroud but there were no more additions to the score line.

Result 0-4