Basford Held In Season Opener

Basford United 0-0 Scarborough Athletic (Northern Premier League) 14.08.21

Basford United began their Northern Premier League campaign on Saturday with a 0-0 draw against Scarborough Athletic at Greenwich Avenue.

Both sides shared a handful of decent chances throughout but both defences came out on top in a cagey yet fairly feisty stalemate.

Recent signing Aaron O’Connor started for the first time in a Basford shirt, whilst 17-year-old academy prospect Nathaniel Peters made his senior competitive debut when he replaced captain Matt Thornhill who hobbled off with a groin injury early on.

Kieran Glynn had the best chance of the match when he found himself one-on-one with Adam Collin who did well to block, whilst the hosts’ Rev James may have snatched it at the death, though his header lacked any power, and a point was just about fair.

Boss Steve Chettle said: “It’s a good point, I think. Scarborough are obviously a big club in this league – an ex-National League team, an ex-Football League team, so we knew what kind of side they’d have.

“We watched them twice in pre-season and I thought it was a bit nip-and-tuck where we could have won it and I’m sure they’d be saying the same kind of thing with the chance they had in the second half.

“But their ‘keeper makes two great saves, one from Willow’s (Ryan Wilson) free-kick and from Rev’s header, but I’m pleased. Pleased with the clean sheet – I’m a happy boss.

“Everyone knows what I’m like, I’m a miserable old so-and-so when it comes to keeping clean sheets and it’s one more point than we had this time last year.

“Matt has not had a problem all pre-season so it’s a bit frustrating really,” Chettle added, when asked about Thornhill’s withdrawal.

“He played a ball around the corner and felt his groin tighten up and the physio said he’d be okay for the time being, but we took him off as a precaution.

“Hopefully his absence will only be a week, but it gave young Nathaniel Peters the opportunity to get onto the pitch for the first time in a Northern Premier League fixture and I thought he was fantastic.

“For somebody to be dropped in at the deep end, he coped really well, and I was really pleased with him.”

United began brightly and Alex Howes was presented with the best opportunity of the first half when James Clifton teed him up for a hurried shot which fizzed marginally wide.

Moments later, Boro, backed by a typically strong following, had their key chance to go in front and Nathan Cartman’s eyes must have lit up when Ashley Jackson’s cross came his way, but the striker’s outstretched leg could only help it around Collin’s far post.

A deep free-kick from Wilson then caused chaos midway through the second period when it was glanced goal wards by the retreating head of Lewis Turner only for visiting ‘keeper Ryan Whitley to stoop low to his right and claw around for a corner.

Glynn then found himself in on goal after racing on to a pass from Cartman but could only fire straight at former Notts County stopper Collin who kept Boro at bay with his feet.

James’ introduction with 23 minutes remaining added a much-needed spark to the home attack, and the striker thought he had won it when his looping header, on the end of Marshall’s pull-back, was destined for the far corner, but Whitley awkwardly palmed clear.

Howes’ low volley from the resultant melee was scrambled off the line by Kieran Weledji as both sides claimed a share of the spoils on the opening weekend.

Chettle concluded on newest recruit O’Connor: “I thought he was great and he’s another we’ve had to nurse back to full fitness. “OC” hasn’t played for a long time and last season he didn’t play much at all.

“He had a rolled ankle early on in pre-season so he’s two weeks behind everybody else, but we knew we’d get him through an hour to get Rev (James) and they both did great.

“I’m really pleased with the group we have. We’ve had a good pre-season but now it’s out bread and butter, the league.”

United are back in action on Tuesday night (17 August) when they travel to Matlock Town, 19:45.

Basford United: Adam Collin, Dom Roma, Ryan Wilson, Brad Gascoigne, Stef Galinski, Declan Dunn, James Clifton, Alex Howes, Marcus Marshall, Matt Thornhill (Nathaniel Peters 29), Aaron O’Connor (Rev James 67).