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Sat 10 Mar 2018 ·  East Central 2
Royal Wootton Bassett B
Mens Summer League
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15:15
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Promotion possible
Alex Ford12 Mar 2018 - 18:37
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Can the 3s secure promotion with 2 games still to go?
Table topping Marlborough B arrived at Wootten Bassett fired up for the opportunity to secure promotion against a side lurking in the relegation zone. Marlborough scored an immediate psychological advantage by conducting an organised warm up: the obvious anaerobic benefits of this were somewhat undermined by choosing to do it on a netball pitch with a surface like polished glass, however it obviously worried the opposition.
The game became a test for the Marlborough midfield whose average age was probably 2.5 that of an opposition that demonstrated some enviable stick skills alongside bursts of speed. Fortunately the ever dependable Marlborough defence comprising Harley, Gosling, Devenish and a combination of Ford and Shaw soaked up pressure, absorbed fast breaks and pretty much denied any chances. Behind them Tom Shaw in goal, solid as ever covered any penetrations. He also demonstrated compete impartiality late in the second half by spectacularly taking out both Tom Devenish and the Bassett forward whilst quite legitimately clearing a cross.
Marlborough made the most of their possession frequently finding Newton with through balls: his strength on the ball created a number of chances. After only two short corners the first goal came from Dave Patterson cunningly converting a the near post return pass to his third injection A satisfying result from a well worked move. Bassett came back strongly and dominated the last 15 minutes before the turn-around causing a re-structuring that shifted Ford up front to add more width. Gabriel Dellar capped a strong performance by scoring the second with a deflection close in and finally Chris Newton found himself on the receiving end of a classy passing exchange between Gill and Shaw and deftly lifted it over the diving keeper. Bassett scored one but the result was never really in doubt
Marlborough won 3-1 meaning that they are mathematically promoted and the skipper generously provided fizz to confirm it: however they probably have to win the two rescheduled games remaining to secure the silverware. More early meets and short corner practise are clearly the way forward.
The game became a test for the Marlborough midfield whose average age was probably 2.5 that of an opposition that demonstrated some enviable stick skills alongside bursts of speed. Fortunately the ever dependable Marlborough defence comprising Harley, Gosling, Devenish and a combination of Ford and Shaw soaked up pressure, absorbed fast breaks and pretty much denied any chances. Behind them Tom Shaw in goal, solid as ever covered any penetrations. He also demonstrated compete impartiality late in the second half by spectacularly taking out both Tom Devenish and the Bassett forward whilst quite legitimately clearing a cross.
Marlborough made the most of their possession frequently finding Newton with through balls: his strength on the ball created a number of chances. After only two short corners the first goal came from Dave Patterson cunningly converting a the near post return pass to his third injection A satisfying result from a well worked move. Bassett came back strongly and dominated the last 15 minutes before the turn-around causing a re-structuring that shifted Ford up front to add more width. Gabriel Dellar capped a strong performance by scoring the second with a deflection close in and finally Chris Newton found himself on the receiving end of a classy passing exchange between Gill and Shaw and deftly lifted it over the diving keeper. Bassett scored one but the result was never really in doubt
Marlborough won 3-1 meaning that they are mathematically promoted and the skipper generously provided fizz to confirm it: however they probably have to win the two rescheduled games remaining to secure the silverware. More early meets and short corner practise are clearly the way forward.
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