Southern League Premier South Division – Saturday 19th October 2024
Basingstoke Town 0 v 2 Taunton Town Attendance 708
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Manager Dan Brownlie’s line-up for this match included the return of Sam Deadfield in midfield and was: 1. Simon Grant, 2. Markus Johnson-Schuster, 3. Curtis Angell, 4. Rudy Appiah-Allen, 5. Jack Ball, 6. William Upton (Capt), 7. Ben Cook, 8. D’Andre Brown, 9. Liam Ferdinand, 10. Samuel Deadfield, 11. George Reid
On the bench: 12. Nnamdi Nwachuku, 14. Simon Dunn, 15. Dan Warre, 16. James Clark & 17. Max Smith
Referee – Callum Peter
This rematch from our FA Trophy encounter got underway with Stoke attacking the railway end and inside thirty seconds, a neat move down the left found George Reid, inside the penalty area, but his shot smashed off the post straight to Liam Ferdinand, who was unable to fully react in time and the ball rebounded off him over the bar.
Good work on six minutes, from D’Andre Brown as he shaped to shoot, but clipped the ball to Ferdinand, who smashed a volley just over the bar.
The visitors have produced very little, and the next half chance fell to Rudy Allen as a blocked cross fell to him, but dragged his shot just wide of the left-hand post.
Taunton then had a little possession in our half, but created very little, but the game became secondary to the antics of Taunton’s Manager who kept stomping up and down the touchline, shouting at the Basingstoke dugout.
Brown then won a free-kick just outside the free-kick, but Sam Deadfield’s kick flew comfortably over the bar.
A left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area forced Simon Grant to palm the ball away for a corner to Taunton.
Two minutes later Taunton broke clear, and the ball was slid past Grant, and looked to find the net, only for the ball to be cleared off the line, but unluckily straight to another Taunton forward who slotted the ball back into the open net. Basingstoke 0-1 Taunton
Taunton then had two more corners, but just before the break, we created another chance but Reid’s shot from close range was blocked out for a corner on the right.
The referee who had made some strange decisions in the latter part of the first half allowed two minutes of added-time before blowing the halftime whistle with Stoke a goal down at the break and much to do to get back in the game.
Halftime Score: Basingstoke Town 0 v 1 Taunton Town
With no changes the second-half got underway and Allen found Brown, but his shot was headed away for a corner.
Stoke were then reduced to ten men after Sam Deadfield received a second-yellow card (53 mins).
Stoke made it’s first change of the day as Dan Warre replaced George Reid (56 mins).
Taunton were looking to control the game and won a penalty, but Grant was equal to the shot, as he made the save low down at the right-hand post.
Stoke looked to get back in the game, but Brown’s shot was deflected inches wide of the left-hand post.
It was time for our second change as Nnamdi Nwachuku replaced Ben Cook (71 mins).
With fifteen to go Ferdinand neatly sent Warre through, but his shot ballooned over the bar.
Taunton still were creating very little, but were happy to defend their lead, and Stoke made two further changes as Simon Dunn replaced D’Andre Brown & Max Smith replaced Curtis Angell (78 mins).
With eight minutes to go, Taunton put the game to bed as their leading goal-scorer Tom Smith collected a neat through ball and side-footed his shot past Grant in goal. Basingstoke 0-2 Taunton
We made our final change as Dan Warre was replaced by James Clark (87 mins).
The referee who has not improved in the second-half, played eight minutes of added-time, before Stoke’s first loss of the league season.
Full-time Score: Basingstoke Town 0 v 2 Taunton Town
Malshanskyj 36 mins, Smith 83 mins
Match Thought’s
If those two early chances had been taken the game may have finished differently, but it seemed like the FA Trophy game, Taunton defend very well when they get a lead, and we found it tough breaking them down, especially as we only started with two players (Ferdinand & Reid) in attacking roles.
Not the best of return’s for Sam Deadfield, who will likely miss next Saturday’s game at Swindon Supermarine, plus a number of other booking’s and a further red card after the final whistle.
Up Next:
We host Hungerford Town this coming Tuesday evening (22nd), with a 7.45pm KO
Match Report by Martin French..