Match report: Bashley held to 1-1 Southern League Division One South draw by dogged Malvern Town

In the only Southern League Division One South match to be played due to Storm Darragh, Bashley were held to a 1-1 draw with Malvern Town.

The fourth-placed New Forest side fell behind to a first-half penalty, but the referee evened the scale after the break, with Bashley ensuring a share of the points with a spot-kick of their own.

One point was undoubtedly better than none, but it should have been three points after playing against ten men for the last 20 minutes.

A game that was touch and go for being played right up to kick-off ended up as a slog of a skirmish on an ultra-slippery surface and with a wind which made high balls a lottery.

The rain stayed away during the 90 minutes. However, the wind was an unpredictable torment throughout, and the pitch cut up quite drastically, with players frequently robbed of promising positions by losing their footing.

Even so, in the circumstances, it was entertaining and a fair reward for the 200-plus fans who braved the weather to watch.

Having entered what they thought would be a period of stability with their team line-up, Bashley were without centre-back Steve Walker, out through suspension, and key midfielder Luke Holmes, who broke a hand in a work accident. Another prominent midfielder, Lewis Waterfield, was also out via suspension.

Bashley has excellent cover in Rob Flooks and Charlie Wagstaffe, but it can rob a team of chemistry if there are frequent changes.

Early on, Bashley looked uncomfortable, while Malvern quickly showed they could be dangerous if given scope. Keeper Mack Allan had two immediate chances to underline his outstanding ability.

First, Alex Bell sent in a cracking 20-yarder, which Allan held on to more confidently than he was entitled to, then the keeper made one of his trademark flying fingertip saves when Lewis Spurrier eluded the defence and hit a blockbuster towards the top corner.

So Bashley struggled to get motoring, but Scott Bungay soon showed several times why most defenders in the division would grow to hate playing against him. The willowy build, the ability to turn on a sixpence – and not least a deadly shooting ability – are highly valuable assets.

He had Bashley’s first shot, then narrowly missed connecting with a low cross when Harvey Bertrand made one of his adventuring runs down the right.

Bashley had just started getting into the game when they fell behind in what can politely be called controversial circumstances. In truth, it seemed utterly baffling – to both sides – when referee Harris pointed to the penalty spot after 26 minutes.

Malvern’s Harry Clark chased a loose ball, but Allan bravely beat him to it, diving to take it cleanly with two hands, while Clark’s momentum took him up and over the keeper. Allan stood up with the ball and was as astonished as any of the crowd when the referee awarded a penalty.

After a lengthy discussion, the penalty was confirmed. Jack Watts slammed it past Allan’s despairing dive, and Bashley went to the break in arrears.

Bash started the second half much brighter, with Jamie Webber – in his latest comeback game – adding a dimension down the left-hand side as a half-time substitute for Josh Bertie.

Luke Delaney was prominent for a time, twice breaking clear on the right to get in crosses, the first of which keeper Lewis Adams almost let creep in at the near post and the second being held at the second attempt.

Six minutes into the half, Bashley were deservedly level. Bungay worked an opening just inside the area and hit a thunderbolt, which crashed against the post and away, but only as far as Conor Whiteley, who was brought down as he tried to tee up a shot of his own. Lewis Ross made the penalty look like easy work.

With 70 minutes played, Malvern skipper Luke Payne, just inside his half, took a swing at a bouncing ball and missed it entirely, giving Luke Delaney a clear run at goal. A clip of the ankles and down he went, the prelude to a flash of red at Payne, and off he went.

After that, it was real cat-and-mouse stuff. Malvern dropped back into a deep defence but kept a player or two up front to keep Bash at least partly honest.

Roberts Flooks came within a whisker of winning it after an Arnold cross into the danger zone bobbled around in the goalmouth. It fell to the centre-back, whose rushed shot flew up and over the crossbar, leaving the watching crowd aghast.

Malvern had a couple of late counter-attacks which might have brought them an unlikely winner, but the final whistle came with the scores still level.

Dave Lewis’s side have no games until Mousehole visits the Veho Community Stadium on the 21st of December, the start of a hectic Christmas and New Year programme.

Bashley resumes their league journey at home next Saturday against eighth-placed Mousehole at 3pm.

Bashley: M. Allan, H. Bertrand, J. Bertie, R. Flooks, C. Wooding, S. Bungay, C. Whiteley, L. Ross, L. Delaney, C. Wagstaffe, D. Walster. Subs: B. Williams, L. Goad, J. Arnold, J. Webber, G. Ashby.