Bashley fail to take their chances in Shaftesbury loss

Sydenhams Premier League

Bashley FC 2

Shaftesbury FC 3

BASHLEY laid siege to the Shaftesbury goal and could have scored on multiple occasions, but ultimately Shaftesbury sealed all three points at the Glen Max Stadium last night (Tuesday).

Harry Bunce broke the deadlock on 69 minutes. But in truth, Bashley should have already put the game to bed after missing a glut of chances throughout the first-half.

The most noteworthy of these missed opportunities came around 50 minutes when Lewis Ross rounded the keeper before a defender cleared his goalbound effort off the line.

Ten minutes later Bashley struck the Shaftesbury woodwork with a long-range free-kick.

The match, although entertaining, was one-way traffic with Bashley pinning Shaftesbury back. But Bunce’s goal, which came after the player skipped past two before firing past Paul Woods, sparked the visitors into life.

With one of their first chances of the match, Shaftesbury forced Bashley keeper Harry Gravett into conceding a corner. Shaftesbury took advantage and centre-half Ryan Mitchell buried his header.

Bashley continued to dominate, but Shaftesbury yet again scored against the run of play when Jordan Matthews was put through on goal by Connor Millar.

The home side refused to let their heads drop, and they scored straight from the kick-off with an 83rd-minute Cameron Beard equaliser after a neatly headed pass from Ross.

It would be heartbreak for the season-high 270 fans in attendance as Shaftesbury found a winner in the 88th minute when Matthews scored from another corner after Bashley failed to clear the ball.

The match ended in frenetic fashion with Bashley hunting an equaliser in a game they should have won with ease.

Bashley: H. Gravett, B. Strickland, L. Farrugia, D. Thompson, J. Webber, L. Ross, O. Bradley, B. Morris, C. Beard, H. Morgan, H. McGrath. Subs: L. Aimson, S. Thompson, T. Betts, C. Whiteley, H. Bunce.