Bashley FC struggle against bottom-of-the-table Solent University
Sydenhams Wessex Premier: Bashley FC 1-2 Solent University
BASHLEY FC slipped to 13th in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier after a 2-1 defeat to Solent University.
Any thoughts of an easy three points were discounted when bottom-of-the-table Solent started strongly and dominated the first 10 minutes.
Bashley’s best chance fell to Jamie Webber when he sliced wide following a Conor Whiteley attempt that came back off the crossbar. At the other end, a high bouncing ball almost caught the Bash defence off guard as it landed just past the post.
Bash fall behind
Bash pressed forward with Harry Bunce beating his man but was denied by Solent keeper Alex Londors. However, Bashley found themselves behind when a poor clearance gave Solent’s Tam Demunga an open goal and a simple finish. Bashley strove forward in search of an equaliser.
Harry McGrath found the wrong side of the bar after excellent approach work by Lewis Ross. Then a fiercely struck drive from Jack Smith from 35 yards surprised everyone barring the keeper who made an outstanding acrobatic save.
Moments later, an effort from Will Prior suffered the same fate as Londors once more excelled.
The second half started with the hosts looking confident and undeterred by the scoreline. This all changed when a run by Alex Jean-Pierre, Solent’s big frontman, left Bash keeper Jason Collins in two minds and his lob over the advancing keeper put the visitors 2-0 ahead.
Frustrating finish
With 35 minutes to play, the game was still there to be won, but unexpectedly the home side lost their composure. Whiteley went into the record books as the first Bashley player to experience the sin bin while Bunce was lucky not to join him.
Jack Smith, who had been the subject of a nasty tackle moments before, was given a red card for an elbow which could have been deemed accidental but was seen differently by the officials who were both close by.
Four minutes from time, Bashley pulled one back when McGrath was brought down in the area and Ross converted from the spot. Brad Strickland was brought on for Whiteley and Ollie Smith for Prior, but the late equaliser never came.
Bashley: Collins, Webber, J. Smith, Morris, Browning, Thompson, Bunce, Ross, McGrath, Whiteley, Prior. Used Subs: Strickland, O. Smith.
