Match Report: Basingstoke Town 1 vs 0 Walton & Hersham – Tuesday 24th September 2024

Southern League Premier South Division – Tuesday 24th September 2024
Basingstoke Town 1 v 0 Walton & Hersham Attendance 645
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Manager Dan Brownlie’s line-up for this midweek clash was: 1. Simon Grant, 2. Markus Johnson-Schuster, 3. Curtis Angell, 4. Jack Ball, 5. James Clark, 6. William Upton (Capt), 7. Robbie Gallagher, 8. Rudy Allen, 9. Dan Warre, 10. Liam Ferdinand, 11. Max Smith
On the bench: 12. Nnamdi Nwachuku, 15. Simon Dunn, 16. George Reid, 17. D’Andre Brown & 18. Ben Cook
Referee – Andrew Dunn

This early season battle against rivals Walton & Hersham, got underway with Stoke attacking the car-park end in the first-half, and good work by Robbie Gallagher and Liam Ferdinand, set up Curtis Angell who hit a right-foot shot that forced the Walton keeper to palm the ball out for a corner, which was cleared.

Stoke continued to be the team on top, with Walton having little possession in our half of the pitch, as we hit the fifteenth minute mark.

Then a mess-up at the back, allowed Walton to break, but James Clark blocked the ball out for a corner, which was met by Angell’s strong headed clearance.

Stoke then won two corners over the next two minutes, but both were handled by Walton.
Gallagher then intercepted a loose pass and when on a crossfield run, before being pulled down, and the Walton defender went into the book. Clark’s free- kick was pushed out for a corner on the left. Stoke took the lead as the cross was met by Upton who headed home. GOAL! Basingstoke Town 1 v 0 Walton & Hersham (Upton 22 mins).

Walton looked to get back on level terms a minute later, but the pass from the right wing was behind ex-Stokie Dan Rowe, who could only drag his shot wide of the near right-hand post.

Good work from Dan Warre & Angell, then allows Angell to break into the penalty area, but his shot is headed clear.
Stoke continued their attacking efforts a minute later, as Ferdinand’s neat control and turn, sets up Angell whose shot from the byline is saved down low by the Walton keeper.

Walton have produced very little, but their No.11 Thomas Olyott, is the only player, showing any signs of any skill, but fortunately his final touch has been poor.

Ferdinand continued to be a menace to Walton’s defence, as he turned one way then hit a shot that was blocked out to the left, and it was his touch that flew over the bar, when the ball came back in the penalty area.
Stoke played out the referee’s two added-minutes and Stoke went into the break with a deserved lead.

Halftime Score: Basingstoke Town 1 v 0 Walton & Hersham
Stoke were unchanged as the game restarted, whilst it was noticeable that Walton had made a number of changes in an effort to get back into the game. The first action to note was a long ball that saw Grant get taken out by a Walton attacker, and both players received treatment.

The referee who blew for numerous minor fouls in the first forty-five minutes, continues to be noticeably picky in the second-half, whilst Walton’s Olyott wastes two chances as his shots lacked power, saved comfortably by Grant in goal.
Stoke then made their first changes of the day with Nnamdi Nwachuku replacing Dan Warre, and Max Smith replaced by D’Andre Brown (68 mins).

Walton continued to press, but struggled to put any were failing to really trouble Grant in goal.

With fifteen to go Stoke attacked through Nwachuku, who cut inside the penalty area, before sliding the ball to Ferdinand, but two defenders blocked out his effort.
Grant was then called in action, as a shot from the right forced a full-length diving save as he pushed the ball out for a corner, which we dealt with once again.
Stoke then made their third change with Ben Cook replacing Liam Ferdinand (83 mins).

With the crowd wondering how much time the referee would add, we made our fourth change with Simon Dunn replacing Rudy Allen (86 mins).

Then from Waltons, throw-in deep in their own half, Cook won the ball and took the ball past a defender into the penalty area but his left foot shot slid wide of the far post.
With two minutes gone into added-time, we made our fifth change with George Reid replacing Robbie Gallagher (92 mins).

All Walton could offer was another shot that was dragged wide of the goal, then Nwachuku won a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area, which Reid’s free-kick flew high over the bar.
The referee played another minute, but our defence is not going to breached tonight and the referee blew the fulltime whistle on a huge victory for Basingstoke.

Full-time Score: Basingstoke Town 1 v 0 Walton & Hersham
Upton 22 mins

Match Thought’s
A game of two halves, where Stoke dominated possession and chances in the first-half, whilst Walton had the possession and pressure in the second. Although the whole side put in a massive effort, many would feel Jack Ball was outstanding throughout the game. Billy Upton’s aerial domination got us the win.
Still just one of two unbeaten sides (Havant the other), we sit in sixth place.
Up Next:
With a free Saturday, our next game is on the road at Chertsey Town on Tuesday 1st October.

Match Report by Martin French..