Southern League Premier South Division – Saturday 24th February 2024
Basingstoke Town 1 v 0 Plymouth Parkway Attendance 776
Where: Winklebury Sports Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Manager Dan Brownlie with more enforced changes went with a starting line-up of: 1. Simon Grant, 2. James Clark, 3. Massimo Giamattei, 4. Luis Le Paih, 5. Shane Hollamby, 6. Billy Upton (Capt), 7. Bradley Wilson, 8. Ben Cook, 9. Liam Ferdinand, 10. Paul Hodges, 11. Ashleigh Artwell
On the bench: Simon Dunn, Stefan Brown, Shamar Moore, Joe Redmond & Harvey Collins
Referee – Derrick Laing
The game got underway with Stoke attacking the railway end in the first-half, and the first notable attack was in the seventh minute, as a cross from Bradley Wilson on the left, found Liam Ferdinand at the far-post who volleyed his shot wide of the right-hand post.
Wilson then neatly evaded his marker once again down the left, but his cross was met by a Parkway defender, who blocks the ball up into the air, where the keeper can make the catch.
Plymouth’s first attack was via a free-kick, but the kick from thirty-yards out, curled comfortably wide of the left-hand post.
Another cross from a Wilson, on the left, is met by Ferdinand, but his connection sends the ball just wide of the near post.
Plymouth win a corner on the right, but Simon Grant neatly catches the cross. The visitors continue to press, but a well timed tackle from James Clark, puts a stop to a their attack.
Then in the twentieth minute, Parkway are almost made to pay, as their pass out from the back, is intercepted by Wilson, who neatly finds Ferdinand, who tries to go round the keeper, but then hits his shot wide of the right-hand post from seven yards out.
We then win a corner on the left, which is taken short, and Cook sends the ball over to the far post where Ashleigh Artwell is wide open, but his header is directed back across the face of the goal, and out for a goal-kick.
Stoke’s come forward once more, but the resulting shot from Cook on the edge of the penalty, although well hit, flies a yard over the bar.
Stoke’s next chance along for Ferdinand, who from a long clearance out-tussles his marker then takes a touch, but then hits his shot just wide of the post.
Parkway have a little possession, but Stoke’s defence deals with it as Billy Upton heads clear.
Then with two minutes before the break, it’s Wilson who wins another corner on the left. The kick is met by Shane Hollamby whose header is past the keeper, but is scooped of the line by a defender and Parkway clear.
We then play out the three additional minutes awarded by the referee, and despite all our possession and chances, we go into the break level.
Halftime – Basingstoke Town 0 v 0 Plymouth Parkway
During the break, we make our first change, with Ashleigh Artwell replaced by Stefan Brown.
The second-half gets underway, and it’s Hollamby who creates the first chance, after a nicely timed tackle, he sends a long crossfield pass to Wilson, who takes the ball down the left and sends the ball across the face of the goal, but Ferdinand, just can’t get a touch to it, as it rolls out for a goal-kick.
That is unfortunately the last touch from Hollamby, who has picked up an injury and is replaced by academy player Joe Redmond (50 mins).
Ferdinand has another chance to open his account this afternoon, as he is sent through, but his shot is dragged wide of the far post.
Then just past the hour-mark, Parkway attack, but their forward is through but his shot slides inches wide of the left-hand post.
Paul Hodges who has been battling well in his midfield role, then slides the ball to Cook, who hits a shot, but it’s a comfortable save for the Parkway keeper.
Then midway through the second-half there’s a challenge between a Parkway forward and Grant in goal, and Grant is down for a minute receiving treatment, before the game gets back underway.
Despite the early chances, the second-half hasn’t really got going and the visitors are winning more possession in midfield.
Wilson is once again the creator of Stoke’s next attack, after good work from Cook, but again his cross is not met by any Stoke player.
Then with fifteen minutes to go, another long clearance from Grant, is headed on by Brown, for Ferdinand to run on too, but his shot flies over the bar.
Stoke are continuing to push for the opening goal, but it does not look like it’s coming, but then from a free-kick on the left, the cross causes confusion in the penalty area, and with the linesman assistance, the referee awards Stoke a penalty.
It’s Wilson who steps up and hits it low-down to the left, which beats the keepers dive GOAL! Basingstoke Town 1 – 0 Plymouth Parkway (Wilson 82 mins Pen)
Plymouth win a corner with five minutes remaining, but a Parkway forward knocks it high over the bar.
It’s time for Stoke’s final change with Shamar Moore replacing Liam Ferdinand (87 mins).
Parkway look to come forward as we head into the first of six added-minutes, but their shot is high and wide once again.
Hodges wins the ball in midfield once again and slides the ball to Cook, who sends Moore down the right, but his shot come, cross is held by the keeper down low at the near right-hand post.
Parkway have another attack, but the shot is once again poor and flies wide.
Now in the last minute of added-time, Redmond makes a nice tackle, and clears the ball, and the referee who has already taken seven or eight glances of his watch, still looks to play on, but after a clearance from a Stoke free-kick, the referee finally blows the full-time whistle and the Stoke players celebrate another victory.
Full-time Score: Basingstoke Town 1 v 0 Plymouth Parkway
Wilson 82 mins Pen,
Match Thought’s
Despite all the chances, we made hard work of what was a good performance and deserved victory against a tough Plymouth Parkway. I’m sure Liam Ferdinand will make up for those missed chances in the final nine games of our campaign. Bradley Wilson provided most of our attacking threats down the left, whilst Paul Hodges & Ben Cook did a sterling job in the middle of the park. The changed back four again battled and did what it needed to do to earn back-to-back clean sheets, as we move upto tenth in the table.
Up Next:
Well we head into the month of March, with us back on the road, as we head upto into London to take on Hayes & Yeading Utd next Saturday in a 3pm kick-off at the Skyex Community Stadium.
Match Report by Martin French..