Isthmian South Central Division – 18th April 2022
Basingstoke Town 1 v 4 Binfield Attendance 650
Where: Winklebury Sports Complex, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Stoke slip to another home defeat after a less than inspiring performance in front of another large crowd.
Dan Brownlie made a number of changes for Stoke’s final home game of the season: 1. Paul Strudley, 2. Aiden Lewis, 3.James Haworth, 4. Robert Sheridan, 5. Nathan Smart (Capt), 6. Ben Cook, 7. Lloyd Snell 8. D’Andre Brown, 9. Conor Lynch, 10. Stefan Brown, 11. McKoy Palmer
On the bench: Brody Peart, Simon Dunn, Dan Williamson, Anton Rodgers & Daryl Wollers
Referee – James Robinson
The omens were not when good when it became clear the referee was our old friend James Robinson, and the game got underway with Stoke attacking the car park end and in the second minute Binfield send a through ball that splits our back four and a Binfield striker gets to the ball and touches it past the oncoming Paul Strudley, but Nathan Smart is able to get back on the ball and he knocks it out for a corner. We are able to clear from the corner kick.
Binfield continue to push forward, and Stoke’s first real attack is on ten minutes, as we break down the left, and McKoy Palmer cuts inside the ball and slides a shot that rolls two yards wide of the near post.
The first strange referee call comes on sixteen minutes, as Aiden Lewis’s clean tackle is given as a free-kick to Binfield about 28 yards out from our goal. The kick however flies off the wall and out for a corner. The kick is however to long and flies out for a goal-kick.
From the resulting goal-kick we push the ball to Lloyd Snell, who breaks down the right, but his cross is blocked out for a corner on the right. The kick is initially cleared, but we win another free-kick about 30 yds out. The kick is taken quickly as we chip the ball over towards the left hand of the goal, but the keeper is first to the ball.
Binfield’s first real chance then comes from a free-kick about 30 yards, as the kick over the wall finds the Binfield No.6 wide open who fortunately heads it straight at Strudley, who makes the save at his feet.
Another two strange refereeing decisions go against us over the next few minutes, before we win a free-kick about 30yds out directly in front of goal. Ben Cook, hits the kick that bounces off the wall to a Stoke forward, who somehow hits it straight at the keeper, who makes the save with his legs and they clear the ball.
On the half-hour, Binfield create another chance, this time from the right wing, and the dangerous in-swinging cross is met by Nathan Smart, just before a Binfield forward, and Smart heads it out for a corner. Again more ridiculous pushing goes unchallenged by the referee, but the corner-kick is punched clear by Strudley.
An offside call against a Binfield forward is then changed to a free-kick to Binfield. However nothing comes from the free-kick.
Binfield continue to push forward against us, as some of our passing out from the back goes astray.
We win a free-kick on 38 mins about 30yds out, but McKoy Palmer’s kick is comfortably caught by the keeper.
Then on 42 mins they break over the halfway-line, and a through ball splits our centre-backs and with calls for offside, waved away by the referee, their No.11 races away and as he breaks into our penalty area, he mishits his shot, but it still rolls just wide of Strudley’s outstretched dive and into the net. Basingstoke 0 – 1 Binfield.
The final two minutes, plus a minute of injury-time are played, before the referee blows the halftime whistle.
Halftime – Basingstoke Town 0 v 1 Binfield
Stoke make no changes at halftime, as the game gets back underway, and it takes just three minutes before the visitors double their lead, as we lose the ball at the back, which forces Strudley to make a save as he palms the ball out for a corner. From the corner however, ex-Stoke defender Joe Gater heads home at the far post. Basingstoke 0 – 2 Binfield
Our first attack of the second half comes on 54 minutes as Cook finds Snell down on the right, who sends over a cross that is initially blocked away, but falls to Stefan Dunn whose shot is partially blocked and the keeper is first to the rebound.
We then a make a triple substitution to change things up, with Anton Rodgers replacing D’Andre Brown, Brody Peart replacing Lloyd Snell and Simon Dunn replacing Ben Cook.
Stoke are back on it a minute after the substitutions, as we initially break down the right wing, but the cross is knocked away to where Palmer retrieves and then sends in a powerful cross that flies past the face of the goal with Lynch unable to get any touch on it.
Binfield then increase their lead as they break past us down the right and their forward has time to cut inside on his left foot, and sends a shot that finds the far corner of the net. Basingstoke 0 – 3 Binfield
We continue to make poor decisions out from the back, that almost costs a fourth goal as they intercept a poor pass and break down the left, and the cross to a Binfield striker finds him wide open, but his header is poor and bounces comfortably to Strudley in goal.
We then have another half-chance, as Simon Dunn, finds Stefan Brown, who takes two chances then slides the ball to Palmer, who is forced to take the shot quickly before being tackled, and his shot flies wide of the near post.
Then on 64 minutes we attack down the left, as Stefan Brown wins the ball back and finds Palmer who slides the ball to Dunn, who slides it onto Lynch who touches the ball to his right and then smashes home a shot from ten yards that hits the net before the keeper has time to move. GOAL ! Basingstoke Town 1– 3 Binfield (Lynch 64 mins)
We then push forward again and we create another chance as Brody Peart takes the ball down the right and sends in a cross that rebounds to Dunn, whose shot from eight yards out is week and the keeper makes an easy save.
We continue to be the team on top and we force another corner that Stefan Brown wins the initial header, but the falls easily to the keeper, who dives on the ball.
Another strange refereeing decision as the linesman awards the throw-in, only for the referee to award the visitors a free-kick!
We attack again through Brody Peart, but Binfield’s defence holds firm.
Then the referee creates even more controversy and crowd complaints, as a shot hits a Binfield player in the face, and the ball bounces towards a Stoke player, only for the referee to call a halt to the game. Then as the player receives treatment the referee gives Stefan Brown a straight red card for something he has said and Stoke are down to ten men. The game gets back underway with Binfield’s keeper kicking the ball downfield.
This has taken the air out of the game, and a few minutes later James Howarth goes in the book.
Binfield have the next attack on 83 mins which forces us to head the ball over our own bar and out for a corner. Nothing comes from the corner.
We move into the last two minutes and Binfield break and they have time and space to slot the ball past Strudley and into the net. Basingstoke 0 – 4 Binfield
We are now in added time, and the referee allows four minutes before the blows the final whistle.
Full-time Score: Basingstoke Town 1 v 4 Binfield
Beauchamp 42 & 58 mins, Gater 48 mins, Moore 88 mins
Match Thought’s
Yet once more, we fail to produce on the pitch in front of another huge crowd and we end our home league season with seven home losses. That is simply not good enough for a team pushing for the playoffs. Peart & Dunn showed some energy when they came on the pitch, but there was very little else to be happy about. Stefan Brown will be available for our last league game, but will miss the playoffs if we make them.
Up Next:
Well we go into the final game of the season next Saturday, knowing that we must win yet once more on the road, this time at Chalfont St Peter to ensure our playoff place.
Very average performance at home as usual.