Match Report: Basingstoke Town 1 v 1 Gloucester City – Saturday 8th February 2025

Southern League Premier South – Saturday 8th February 2025
Basingstoke Town 1 vs 1 Gloucester City Attendance 549
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Manager Dan Brownlie’s went with the same starting line-up as the midweek game at Merthyr Town: 1. Simon Grant, 2. Markus Johnson-Schuster, 3. JL Colwell, 4. Scott Armsworth, 5. Jack Ball, 6. Billy Upton (Capt), 7. Jayden Brissett, 8. Rudy Allen, 9. Liam Ferdinand, 10. Sam Deadfield, 11. Robbie Gallagher
On the bench: 12. Ben Cook, 14. George Reid, 15. Pele Koulsseoue, 16. Charlie Barlow, 17. James Clark
Referee – Robert Ablitt

Stoke attacked in the opening minute but Jayden Brissett’s shot from the inside the penalty area was pushed away for a corner on the right-hand side.

Two minutes Simon Grant was forced into a diving save after a shot came in from the edge of our penalty area.

Gloucester eased forward into our half twice more over the next ten minutes, but were forced into shots from outside the penalty area, that lacked any real power, and Grant made comfortable saves.
Still very little actual goalmouth action by either side, and although Stoke won some corners, nothing came from them as we closed in on the last five minutes of the first-half.

Another Gloucester shot from the edge of the penalty area was saved by Grant.
A minute of added-time was played before we went into the break goal-less.

Halftime Score: Basingstoke Town 0 vs 0 Gloucester City
With Stoke attacking the railway end in the second-half it was the visitors who created the first chance, but Grant was down low to make the save.

Stoke on the hour mark, pushed forward and forced a corner on the right, which was met with a full diving aerial punch clear.

A minute later we attacked once more and a cross was headed on by Billy Upton to Rudy Allen flicked the ball onto Brissett who timed his volleyed finish past the keeper into the net. GOAL! Basingstoke Town 1 – 0 Gloucester City (Brissett 63 mins)

The goal forced Gloucester to push forward more urgently over the next few minute, as first one of their strikers found time and space to shoot, but Grant made the save down low. Then another City move saw them break into our penalty area only for Upton to come racing across and make a timed sliding tackle putting the ball out for a corner.

It was time for Basingstoke to make it’s first change as we replaced our goal-scorer Jayden Brissett for Ben Cook (73 mins).

Stoke should have doubled their lead on seventy-seven minutes, but Ferdinand who neatly turned and found space directly in front of goal, mistimed his shot and the ball bumbled to the keeper.
Stoke made it’s second change as Liam Ferdinand was replaced by James Clark (83 mins).

Despite City looking more dangerous, our defence was holding them at bay, but with just four minutes to go a long-range shot, rebounded off Ben Cook’s and looped up into the air and over Grant and into the net. Basingstoke 1-1 Gloucester.

Stoke then won a corner on the left, which was initially cleared, but was then pushed back into penalty area, which was headed straight to James Clark, but his shot was hit into the ground, bounced safely to the City keeper.
Stoke then made their third change, as Robbie Gallagher was replaced by Pele Koulsseoue (90 mins).

Gloucester pushed for the winner, as four minutes of added-time was announced, but Stoke’s defence stood firm and the points were shared.

Full-time Score: Basingstoke Town 1 vs 1 Gloucester City
Brissett 63 mins,                                           Watts 86 mins

Match Thought’s
Thought the game lacked a real spark, and despite both teams having clear chances, it was Gloucester who passed the ball around with a controlled style that we could not match at times. Couldn’t see a goal coming, till Jayden Brissett’s neat volleyed finish. With already a back five that had looked strong, we then went into an even more defensive format.
Yes the goal was fortunate, but again it came late and many supporters are simply expecting for it to happen.
We slip one more place to thirteenth, but many would say we would have taken a point from first and third in the league if we were offered it before the start of the week.
Up Next:
We are back on the road and into Berkshire, as we play Hungerford Town next Saturday (15th) KO 3pm

Match Report by Martin French..