Following last Saturday’s pre-season win at Hythe & Dibden, Basingstoke hosted the Watford U21 side at Winklebury on one of the wettest days of the year.
Despite the poor weather a decent sized crowd was on hand to see a fairly competitive game, with a mix of last season’s squad and a number of trialists still under the eye of Dan Brownlie & Aaron Nicholson.
The first half was initially edged by the visitors who took the lead through a neat overhead kick finish.
Stoke however equalized on twenty minutes as Nathan Smart fed Ashleigh Artwell just part the halfway line, and Artwell went on a mazy run turning his markers one way and then the other and drove into the penalty area before sliding home a shot into the far corner of the net. Both teams had a chance to take the lead before halftime, but the game went into the break level.
Stoke made a number of initial changes to start the second-half and again it was another stunning Watford finish, as a shot from 25 yards, gave them the lead once again.
Stoke pushed forward for the equaliser and with a bit more luck and some better finishing should have pulled the game level.
However, with just a couple of minutes remaining, trialist B knocked the ball home from close range as the ball fell to him from a corner.
On what was a well-played game by both sides, the game ended level, as supporters left for home after another good Stoke performance.
Basingstoke Town 2 vs 2 Watford U21’s
Attendance was given as 480
Up Next: Chippenham Town away Tuesday 25th July 7.45pm KO
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