Match Report: Basingstoke Town 2 vs 0 Wimborne Town – Saturday 9th August 2025

Southern League Premier South – Saturday 9th August 2025
Basingstoke Town 2 vs 0 Wimborne Town Attendance 820
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Manager Dan Brownlie’s line-up for the opening day of the season was: 1. Simon Grant, 2. Markus Johnson-Schuster, 3. Joseph O’Loughlin, 4. Connor Barratt, 5. Jack Ball, 6. Billy Upton (Capt), 7. Bradley Wilson, 8. Josh Green Brown, 10. Robbie Gallagher, 11. George Reid, 12. D’Andre Brown
On the bench: Charlie Austin, Ben Cook, 14. Joel Rollinson, Scott Armsworth & Elliott Legg
Referee – Michael Ryan

We opened our 2025-26 campaign with Basingstoke wearing their retro kit and with ex-Premier league player Charlie Austin on the bench. After a quiet opening few minutes, it was the tale of two fortunes, when in the sixth minute a Wimborne cross was directed onto the bar down and Stoke hooked the ball clear. A minute later Stoke took the lead after Josh Green won the ball on the edge of Wimborne’s penalty area and found Robbie Gallagher, who slid it onto George Reid, who in the motion of being tackled, deflected off him and over the Wimborne keeper and into the net GOAL! Basingstoke Town 1 – 0 Wimborne Town (Reid 7 mins)

The next attack was from Stoke, as they broke down the left through Gallagher’s neat footwork, and he slipped the ball to Bradley Wilson, who cut inside, and let fly a shot that flew wide.

Stoke created two more shots on the Wimborne goal, but both were tame and comfortably held by the Wimborne keeper.

It was Wimborne with the next chance on eighteen minutes, but the shot from the edge of the left-hand penalty box, flew a foot wide of the far post.

On twenty-seven minutes Billy Upton cleared as a Wimborne shot headed towards the goal.
Gallagher was fouled for about the fourth time, with the Wimborne defender going in the book.

Minutes later it was Gallagher’s turn to go in the book as a high tackle, saw him see yellow, despite calls for a straight red from the Wimborne fans.

There was very little goalmouth action over the final ten minutes of play, with free-kicks wasted by both teams.
The referee allowed two minutes of added-time, and Stoke went into the break, leading with the George Reid goal.

Halftime Score: Basingstoke Town 1 vs 0 Wimborne Town
The second-half got off to a slow start with little to note, as both defences were getting on top.
Stoke made its first change of the day with Connor Barratt, being replaced by Ben Cook (60 mins).

The first real chance of the half saw Simon Grant make a full-length diving save from a Wimborne forward.

Still little to note, and Stoke made its second change with George Reid being replaced by Charlie Austin (68 mins).
Austin’s first involvement in the game, was a volley that was easily held by the keeper.

Stoke were starting to push for a second, and it was Gallagher again leading the attacks, as he beat his defender but the shot was tame and held by the keeper.
Stoke then made its third change with Bradley Wilson replaced by Joel Rollinson (75 mins).

Grant was called into action a minute later, making another fine save.
Gallagher was back on the ball once again, as he cut inside, but his shot flew over the bar.

Then with ten minutes to go, a loose header back by a Wimborne defender to his keeper, saw Gallagher nip in and touch the ball, just before the keeper clattered into him, just inside the box, leaving the referee no choice but to award the penalty, which Charlie Austin duly smashed home. GOAL!! Basingstoke Town 2 – 0 Wimborne Town (Austin 80 mins Pen)

Stoke were then to make its final two changes as D’Andre Brown was replaced by Scott Armsworth, and Markus Johnson-Schuster replaced by Elliott Legg (82 mins).

Simon Grant make his third good save of the half as deep in stoppage time a full-length flying save, saw him push the ball over the bar.

A minute later the referee had seen enough and blew the final whistle and Stoke start out with three points.

Full-time Score: Basingstoke Town 2 vs 0 Wimborne Town
Reid 7 mins, Austin 80 mins (Pen)

Match Thought’s
Opening games of the season, can be strange affairs, as teams get down to the real football, after a series of friendlies, and yesterday was exactly that. Periods of good play and chances and then bouts of very little goalmouth action. Gallagher was back to his tenacious self and Josh Green appears to have found his slot in the midfield. Simon Grant proved to be at his best yesterday making three fine second-half saves, and a worthy clean sheet, to start the season off.
Three points and we sit in fourth place, a good start and Manager Dan Brownlie will be happy with that.
Up Next:
Well we head to Worcestershire on Tuesday, to take on promoted Evesham Utd. NB. KO 7.30pm

Match Report by Martin French..