Southern League Premier South Division – Saturday 6th April 2024
Basingstoke Town 1 v 3 Bracknell Town Attendance 922
Where: Winklebury Sports Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Dan Brownlie’s line-up against Bracknell Town was: 1. Simon Grant, 2. Curtis Angell, 3. Massimo Giamattei, 4. Elliott Bolton, 5. Shane Hollamby, 6. Billy Upton (Capt), 7. Bradley Wilson, 8. Paul Hodges, 9. Liam Ferdinand, 10. Dan Rowe, 11. Luis Le Paih
On the bench: Stefan Brown, Simon Dunn, Joe Redmond, Harry Bowden & Joel Halliday
Referee – Matthew Fletcher
Our penultimate home game of the season, got underway with Basingstoke attacking the car-park end in the first half, and it was Stoke who made the initial skirmishes in the oppositions half, but put little on Bracknell’s goal, as we hit the ten minute mark, which allowed the visitors to come into the game.
Both sides continued to struggle to force either keeper into a save, but then on eighteen minutes, a through ball allowed a Bracknell forward to reach the ball first and his clip over the oncoming Simon Grant, bounced into an open net. Basingstoke 0-1 Bracknell
Bracknell created the next attack three minutes later, but Grant was able to push the ball clear as he dived to his left.
Stoke were still struggling to create anything of note, as we moved past the half-hour mark.
Paul Hodges forced a save out of the Bracknell keeper, but Bracknell broke from this attack, and doubled their lead on thirty-eight minutes as a shot from the right found the far corner of the net. Basingstoke 0-2 Bracknell
Stoke then pushed forward over the next few minutes, and halved Bracknell’s lead, via Bradley Wilson’s break and cross from the left, which found Liam Ferdinand, who tapped home from close range at the far post, as we entered added-time in the first-half GOAL! Basingstoke Town 1 – 2 Bracknell Town (Ferdinand 45 +1 mins)
There was a further two minutes of play before the referee blew the halftime whistle.
Halftime – Basingstoke Town 1 v 2 Bracknell Town
It was Bracknell who came close to adding a third, but Grant made a superb reaction save, pushing the ball wide for a corner.
Stoke came close to bringing the game level in the fifty-first minute, as the ball fell to him inside the six-yard box, but his low shot allowed the keeper to kick the ball away.
As we hit the hour-mark, Wilson was able to get a shot away as he entered the penalty area on the left, but the Bracknell keeper was able to make the save.
Stoke won a free-kick five yards outside the Bracknell penalty area, after Elliott Bolton was clipped in a high tackle, however Rowe’s kick rebounded off the wall for a corner.
Stoke made their first changes of the game, with a double change, as Simon Dunn replaced Shane Hollamby, and Joe Redmond replaced Dan Rowe (72 mins).
However, a foul on a Bracknell forward inside the penalty, allowed Bracknell to increase their lead via the penalty spot. Basingstoke 1-3 Bracknell (81 mins).
Stoke then made there third change on eight-four minutes, as Paul Hodges was replaced by Stefan Brown.
The referee was then forced to bring a halt to the game, as the Bracknell physio without invitation, entered the field of play to treat one of this players. The referee then booked one of the Bracknell management team.
Stoke were still struggling to find a second goal, as the referee confirmed there would be ten minutes of additional time.
Grant made another fine save to keep the score at three in the ninety-seventh minute.
Stefan Brown was able to get a shot away, but his shot flew wide of the far post.
The referee then called time a minute later, and Stoke lose back-to-back games.
Fulltime Score: Basingstoke Town 1 v 3 Bracknell Town
Ferdinand 45+1 mins, Grant 18 mins, Evans 38 mins, Esprit 81 mins (Pen)
Match Thought’s
Stoke found it tough to get into the game today, as Bracknell looked comfortable in completing the double over us, and any playoff hopes were finally extinguished, for this season.
Simon Grant made three fine saves to keep the score at three.
Up Next:
Basingstoke have a chance to turn it around quickly, as we travel into London on Tuesday evening to take on Hayes & Yeading who are fighting to push clear from the relegation places.
Match Report by Martin French..
English 
Polish 