Bashley treat record crowd against Brockenhurst
Sydenhams Premier: Bashley 3-1 Brockenhurst
PLAYED in front of a league-record 339 spectators, this local derby lived up to expectation, and for 90 minutes fears of Covid-19 were left at the turnstile.
Bashley ran out 3-1 victors with goals from Conor Whiteley, Harry Morgan and Lewis Ross.
Brockenhurst scored in the opening minute when Freddie Bullard tucked the ball home before most of the onlookers, including the Bashley defence, had settled.
An embarrassed Bashley sought immediate retribution, and both Harry McGrath and Harry Bunce went close with early runs at goal before Whiteley equalised from the spot after Lewis Aimson was brought down during a Bunce corner.
The newly tanned Harry Morgan – returning virus-free from a cruise – was the powerhouse behind the attacking trio of Whiteley, Bunce and McGrath but despite all their dominance, they found the Badgers backline, marshalled by the experienced Pat Wilson, hard to break down. A steady supply of crosses from the flanks went unrewarded due to poor aerial presence.
It was not all https://www.bashleyfc.net/ – the visitors were dangerous on the break and had a good goal-scoring chance halted by a yellow-carded Jack Smith tackle. Before the break, Whiteley hobbled off to be replaced by Jamie Webber.
With the game still in the balance, both teams exchanged early chances, with Webber joining Bunce in tormenting the back-peddling Brockenhurst defence. At the other end, ex-Bash favourite Mitch Speechley-Price hit the post and later headed wide.
However, it was Bashley in the end who broke the impasse. Morgan's blistering run, following a bout of mouth-watering interplay, was blocked at the vital moment by a Wilson tackle. After latching on to a precision pass from Brad Morris another powerful run followed, but this time there was no one to stop Morgan's clinical shot.
The game was sealed on 84 minutes when good team build-up found Lewis Ross on the edge of the box. His 20-yard effort across goal nestled in the back of the net to hand the hosts all three points and bragging rights in the derby.
Bashley: Gravett, Smith, Thompson, Strickland, Aimson, Bunce, Morris, Ross, Morgan, Whiteley, McGrath. Used Subs: Webber, Cooper, Betts.
Brockenhurst: Webb, Manufor, Sykes, White, Wilson, Shorey, Kemplen, Bailey, Speechley-Price, Bullard, Sheibatzedeh. Subs: Carbayo-Borges, Mayo, Barrett, King, Nwachukwu.
