Report: Bashley 1-0 Bedworth United - Southern Premier

WINNER:
Gary Middleton

BASHLEY bagged an unlikely winner through defender Gary Middleton after a stoic rather than sizzling display against Bedworth United.

In truth this was a poor spectacle between two teams that slugged it out in front of a sparse crowd at Bashley Road and it was not difficult to see why these sides have only managed six goals in ten games between them this season.

Bash boss Frank Gray admitted at full time that United looked the likelier to score in the latter stages, but equally the hosts created the better openings following a poor first half.

The visitors surprised with their team selection, dropping five first team regulars to the bench after a 3-0 thumping at Leamington, with the move backfiring as Bedworth offered little punch. Tom Byrne’s fizzing effort which sailed over the crossbar was their only highlight in a forgettable first 45 minutes.

Injury hit Bashley struggled to get going as well with James Stokoe’s wayward shot all they had to offer, but the hosts steadily built on their solid opening after the interval.

Stokoe and Charlie Knight both saw headers loop narrowly over while a prodded Stokoe effort was hacked away after the restart.

A breakaway from Bedworth should have given the Greenbacks the lead on the hour when Ashley Robinson caught Ian Richardson in possession and centred for Luke Keen, but with Bash ‘keeper Joe Prodomo out of his goal Brad Strickland was on hand to clear off the line.

Prodomo parried an Alex Dean effort before Liam Green’s shot was cleared off the line by Bedworth’s Melvyn Gourlay at the other end as the match finally gathered pace.

Influential substitute Ashley Spencer burst through from midfield, drawing a good low save from Prodomo while Dean brushed the outside of the post in the last ten minutes, but the best was still to come from Bashley.

Josh Casey set Stokoe away to draw the save of the day from Andy Kemp on 89 minutes but the home side weren’t to be denied when a Knight free kick found Middleton at the far post. The giant defender showed a perfect touch before volleying into the net, leaving no time for a Bedworth fightback.

Bashley's play often gives the impression they need more quality, but they are grabbing results where they need to. Bedworth will need their big hitters performing to establish themselves in this league while both could use a liberal sprinkling of goals to make an impact this season. 

BASHLEY: Prodomo, Smith, Oliver, Strickland, Middleton, Richardson, Casey, Hill, Stokoe, Green (Lompato-Pires 72), Knight.

Unused subs: Vokes, Speechley-Price, Gazzard, Kearn (g/k).

Goal: Middleton 90+2

BEDWORTH UNITED: Kemp, Dean, Haines, Tullen, Gourlay, Recci, Donaldson (Ashley Spencer 56), Bannister, Robinson (Piggon 61), Keen, Byrne (Kolodynski 66).

Unused subs: Andy Spencer, Wesley.

STAR MAN: Joe Prodomo (Bashley)

Hard to pick anyone that really stood out – Byrne shouldn’t have been withdrawn for the visitors as he looked like he could make the breakthrough and Spencer’s introduction gave United another dimension. For Bash, Middleton was solid and popped up with a moment of quality to win it, but had it not been for a couple of smart stops by Prodomo it may never have got that far. Won his place back in the side and has grabbed two clean sheets – repaying the faith shown in him by Gray.