Match Report by Steve Cantle
Everything clicked for Fleet Town on Tuesday night as they dispatched mighty Bashley from the Dr Martens League Cup.
A goal in each half saw Fleet home by a clear margin, despite an 89th minute consolation goal from the New Forest side. Currently fifth in the league, Bashley were made to look very ordinary by an in-form Fleet side that outplayed their opponents in just about every department of the game.
With key league matches against Hastings and Chatham coming up next week, Fleet's humbling of Bashley will provide a huge confidence boost to Mick Catlin's new look side, as they seek to move away from the base of the Dr Martens league table.
Key to Catlin's plan against Bashley was the return of wingman and current top scorer, Shaun Hale, who had missed Fleet's last four matches. With striker, Shea Saunders returning from injury, to partner new signing, Steve Witcher up front, Catlin knew he had a line-up that could unsettle a Bashley side still smarting from recent league defeats at Eastleigh and Stamford.
Fleet again started strongly and were soon setting the pace with some attractive passing football. Their first chance after just 5 minutes came after a slick move down the left by Hale, whose cross produced a volley from Steve Black that was only inches over the bar. At the other end, Fleet keeper, Calvin Sparshatt was kept busy dealing with Bashley¹s huge front-men, Michael Jackson and Danny Gibbons who were the targets of plenty of balls fired in from both sides. Fleet's deserved opener came after 28 minutes. This time the build-up down the left came courtesy of defender Ian Saunders, whose fine cross found the head of Witcher, who headed back for Hale to nod into the top corner of the net.
The home side finished the half strongly and had a great chance to square things when mid-fielder Craig Davis broke away from his marker and was bearing down on goal. But his shot from 10 yards out was brilliantly blocked by keeper Sparshatt.
Managing to stay ahead at the break, Fleet started the second-half strongly and were soon back in charge, their fluent passing creating lots of problems for the slow-moving Bashley defence, particularly down the left-hand side. The chances soon followed, the best in the 49th minute falling to mid-fielder, Ed Hare, whose powerful shot was again only inches over the bar.
For the next 20 minutes Fleet enjoyed their best period of the game, competing energetically for every ball to keep an increasingly frustrated Bashley defence on the back foot. The pace of mid-fielder, Jamie Proctor and frontman, Shea Saunders were proving especially difficult to deal with, without fouling, and as a result Fleet were able to keep up the pressure with some well-rehearsed moves from free-kicks. From one such move Black found the net, only to be denied by the linesman's flag.
Eventually Fleet extended their lead on 63 minutes, after another fine passing move down the left. Hale's cross picked out Shea Saunders, who gave Bashley keeper, Michael Hookway no chance with a powerful shot into the top corner of the net. Ten minutes later Shea Saunders almost netted his second after a powerful run through the defence. But his well-directed shot was brilliantly knocked away by Hookway.
Fleet's defence continued to keep the powerful Bashley front-men in check, as the home side fought hard to get back in the game. But with Fleet skipper, Craig Anstey again putting in a great performance in his new role as sweeper, and some further acrobatics from Sparshatt kept Fleet's lead intact.
When eventually Bashley did manage to score Michael Jackson firing in from close range from a corner there was just a minute left on the clock. But a nervy ten minutes of added time later, the celebrations could deservedly begin for the jubilant Fleet side.
FLEET TOWN: Sparshatt, Black, Millerick, Hare, Jeffrey, Ian Saunders, Anstey, Proctor, (sub, Buckland, 77 mins), Shea Saunders, (Steele Saunders, 81), Whitcher, Hale. Sub not used: Blakeley.