Southern League Premier South – Good Friday 18th April 2025
Basingstoke Town 0 vs 0 AFC Totton Attendance 1,043
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
With this vital must-win game, Manager Dan Brownlie went with a much more defensive line-up which was: 1. Simon Grant, 2. Marcus Johnson-Schuster, 3. Lewis Colwell, 4. Scott Armsworth, 5. Jack Ball, 6. Billy Upton (Capt), 7. Josh Green, 8. Malachi Ogunleye, 9.Robbie Gallagher, 10. George Reid, 11. James Dickson
On the bench: 12. Jaden Brissett, 14, James Clark, 15. Liam Ferdinand, 16. Connor Barratt, & 17. D’Andre Brown
Referee – Stuart Kyle
With a bumper Bank Holiday crowd in attendance, the game got off to a quiet start, with both defences on top, except for a cross from the left which was neatly caught by Simon Grant.
Still little to report as we hit the twenty-minute mark, but we then won a free-kick on the right after Robbie Gallagher, got pulled down just outside the box. George Reid’s free-kick is headed clear. A minute later Gallagher attacked down the right once more, but his cross flew across the face of the goal and away.
Grant has had very little to do, but was called into action, just before the half-hour mark, as he made a stunning fingertip save, pushing the ball over the crossbar from a Totton free-kick.
Stoke created the next chance with five minutes to go before the break, as Totton’s keeper tips Jack Ball’s header over the bar.
We go into the break level.
Halftime Score: Basingstoke Town 0 vs 0 AFC Totton
We got back underway, with Stoke attacking the railway end and again there was very little goalmouth action by either side, as we hit the hour-mark.
Gallagher & Colwell combined neatly on the right earning a corner, but Totton comfortably deal with the kick.
With twenty-minutes remaining Totton looked to open the scoring, but the Totton striker’s shot is blocked and rolls easily to Grant.
Still very little between the two-sides as we headed into the final ten minutes, as Stoke won two corners, but again don’t trouble the Totton goal.
Grant was called into action from a Totton corner, as he makes a fine save from a Totton header.
Stoke then made it’s first change of the day, with George Reid replaced by Liam Ferdinand (88 mins).
In the first of six added-minutes, Malachi Ogunleye neatly set-up Ferdinand, but his shot was blocked away for a corner.
The six minutes were up and we earn a point against promotion chasing Totton, who concede the title to Merthyr.
Full-time Score: Basingstoke Town 0 vs 0 AFC Totton
Match Thought’s
Thought we matched Totton across the pitch, but with a much more defensive line-up, we were always going to struggle to create enough chances to get the three points. The whole team put in the effort needed, with Simon Grant’s first-half save a highlight of the game.
Great support behind the goal today.
All eyes will be on today’s Tiverton & Winchester matches, to see where we stand with Marlow being a must win game now.
Up Next:
Our final game on the road, of the season, sends us to Marlow this Easter Monday (21st)
Match Report by Martin French..
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