Southern League Premier South – Saturday 8th March 2025
Basingstoke Town 1 vs 3 Chertsey Town Attendance 748
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Manager Dan Brownlie went with same starting line-up as our win at Tiverton last Saturday, which was: 1. Mack Allan, 2. Lewis Colwell, 3. Marcus Johnson-Schuster, 4. Jack Ball, 5.James Clark, 6. Scott Armsworth, 7. George Reid, 8. James Dickson, 9.Liam Ferdinand, 10. Ben Cook (Capt), 11. Sam Deadfield
On the bench: Robbie Gallagher, Jayden Brissett, Pele Koulsseoue, Harry Bowden & Connor Barratt
Referee – Oscar Whiting
With the sun streaming across the pitch this important game against a team three places below us in the league got underway, and it was Stoke who won back-to back corners in the fifth minute, the second saw Jack Ball head over the bar.
Chertsey’s first attack was from a corner on the left, that was overhit and rolled out for a throw-in on the far side.
A neat one-two involving Sam Deadfield saw him force a save out of the Chertsey, but Stoke continued to press and a cross to the far post saw, Liam Ferdinand get pulled down and the referee pointed to the spot. James Clark made no mistake sending the Chertsey keeper the wrong way, as he slid the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the net. GOAL! Basingstoke Town 1 – 0 Chertsey Town (Clark 11 mins (Pen).
Chertsey showed signs of getting back into the game, winning a corner and then a free-kick over the next few minutes, which both were well defended.
Stoke then forced a headed clearance by the Chertsey keeper, who was caught outside his box as he beat Ferdinand to Deadfield’s through ball.
Two minutes later Chertsey equalised as their No.10 found acres of space of the left and as he broke into the penalty area, Mack Allan was caught in two minds, only coming halfway towards the striker, who slid the ball past Allan into an empty net. Basingstoke 1-1 Chertsey.
Just past the hour a heavy tackle by the Chertsey No.5 saw him elbow James Dickson, in the head, only for the referee to then award Chertsey the free-kick.
Two further questionable calls by the referee, one for each side, saw a number of comments from both benches and fans alike, as we headed into the final five minutes of the half.
Stoke were then to go behind, as a tackle by the touchline, as Jack Ball got kicked, but the referee waived play-on and Chertsey took full advantage, sliding the ball across to an open forward, who raced clear, before smashing a shot that Allan could only get fingertips to, as the ball went into the roof of the net. Basingstoke 1-2 Chertsey.
Despite all the complaints, the game restarted with us behind, and there was a further four minutes of play, before the referee blew for halftime.
Halftime Score: Basingstoke Town 1 vs 2 Chertsey Town
The restart saw Stoke pushing forward and on fifty minutes, Reid was able to bully his way past his defender, but his shot from eight yards could only find the side-netting.
Stoke then made a double substitution as Sam Deadfield was replaced by Robbie Gallagher, and Scott Armsworth by Jayden Brissett (52 mins).
Three minutes later a real chance came and went, as the ball rebounded to Ben Cook who looked to go forward, but he lost control of the ball as he entered the penalty area, and the ball rolled harmlessly to the Chertsey keeper.
Gallagher was straight into the game, as he sent over a decent low cross across the face of the goal, but a Chertsey defender slid in beating Ferdinand to the ball, as he made the clearance.
Stoke continued to press over the next few minutes, but we were still struggling to find that final pass, as Chertsey defended deep, but Gallagher then appeared to find space to break and shoot, but chose to slide the ball across to Ferdinand, allowing the ball to be intercepted and cleared, to Ferdinand’s clear frustration.
With twenty minutes remaining, Chertsey broke forward from our attack, and their forward made no mistake, as the ball flashed into the back of the net. Basingstoke 1-3 Chertsey
Still lots of possession for Stoke but were still unable to trouble their keeper, as we made two further changes as George Reid was replaced by Pele Koulsseoue, and James Dickson by Connor Barratt.
Barratt’s first input into the game was a volley from a corner, that smashed into a Chertsey defender and rebounded clear.
Stoke continued to press, but the visitors then broke clear down the right and slid the ball across to an open Chertsey forward, who should have made it four, except for a super reaction save by Allan, who then dived on the rebound.
It was noticeable by now the number of stoppages, as Chertsey players appeared to pick-up injuries, breaking any flow of play, as the referee announced four minutes of added-time.
Gallagher won another free-kick just outside the penalty area on the right, but again the kick was dealt with by Chertsey’s No.5, who despite all his antics, had made some timely tackles and blocks, and the referee moments later blew the whistle on another home loss.
Full-time Score: Basingstoke Town 1 vs 3 Chertsey Town
Clark 11 min (Pen) McCoy 26 & 71 mins, Brown 44 mins
Match Thought’s
Well with other losses around us, we dropped one more place to sixteenth, and more worryingly, another home loss to a team below us in the league. What appeared to go right last week, did not this week, as I can only recall two attempts on goal, one being the penalty. Yes we had lots of possession thirty yards out from their goal, but there was no clear way on how to break down a dogged Chertsey defence. Thought James Dickson had a solid game today, and Connor Barratt, certainly got involved whilst he was on for that short period of time.
There’s a couple of key games in our league this Tuesday, which no doubt we will keep an eye on as we look to Sholing next week.
Up Next:
We are back on the road next Saturday, as we travel to much improved Sholing Fc (15th March).
Match Report by Martin French..
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