Munday brace seals Bashley bounce-back victory

Wessex Premier League: Andover New Street 0-3 Bashley

Bashley bounced back after last week’s defeat to cruise past bottom of the league Andover New Street in a 3-0 win at Foxcotte Park.

Dan Munday’s first half brace and Harry McGrath’s sharp finish capped off a dominant first half performance for the Bash as they climb into to the top half of the table.

Dominant Bash

Bashley kicked off down the slope, and although the Street were 20 in the league, it was the visitors who threatened from the whistle.

After several chances, the Bash opened the scoring on 14 minutes. Munday was the recipient of an inch-perfect in-swinging free kick delivered by Harrison White from the left side touchline.

The visitors continued to press. White was unlucky when his goal-bound shot ricocheted over the bar from the foot of a defender.

Set free on the right of the box by a Dan O’Sullivan assist, McGrath reacted quickly with a far-post cross timed perfectly to meet the searching foot of the in-rushing Munday, who needed no further help to double his score tally.

Bashley sealed their superiority with a third goal just before halftime. Hugh Dathan cantered down the right, cut in towards goal and his left-footed snapshot was only half-cleared.

The ball landed in front of an unsuspecting McGrath whose half-hit poke from just inside the box found the corner of the net to the surprise of all including the scorer.

Tight defending

Andover came out for the second half aware that a quick response was necessary if the game was to be saved.

The hosts pushed forward, but Bashley remained compact and frustrated their opponents by keep-ball passing and playing on the counter-attack.

Cameron Plain in the Bash goal commanded his area and never wasted a ball while Dan Thompson, Liam Farrugia and Brad Morris were quick to stifle any danger. Bashley used all three subs as they ran down the game.

They could have increased their lead when McGrath broke free and shot wide when the better option would have been a pass to the unmarked Jamie Webber.

Bashley manager Paul Morris was delighted with the much-needed win. He said: “It was a big three points for us today when you look at the league and we dominated the game.

"We had four or five chances, and we scored three of them. We were a bit more ruthless which in previous games we haven't been. That made us relax and enjoy the second half.”

Bashley now eagerly await a local derby against Lymington Town at Bashley Road on Saturday.

Bashley: Plain, Dathan, Farrugia, White, Morris, Thompson, Smith, Strickland, Munday, O’Sullivan, McGrath. Used Subs: Webber, Gould, Rolls.