Match Report: Basingstoke Town 3 – 0 Chipstead Saturday 8th October 2022

Isthmian South Central Division – Saturday 8th October 2022
Basingstoke Town 3 v 0 Chipstead Attendance 450
Where: Winklebury Sports Complex, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Under-strength Stoke still too good for Chipstead
Dan Brownlie’s starting line-up was: 1. Mark Scott, 2. Ben Mason, 3. James Haworth, 4. Michael Atkinson, 5. Scott Armsworth, 6. Billy Upton, 7. Bradley Wilson, 8.James Clark, 9. Ezio Touray, 10. Ashleigh Artwell, 11. George Reid,
On the bench: Noah Chengun, Callum Winchcombe, Dan Williamson, Nathan Smart & Stefan Brown
Referee – Michael Ryan

The game got underway with Stoke attacking the railway end, and very little action of note in the first few minutes.
Then in the sixth minute, a long crossfield ball from Ben Mason to Bradley Wilson who cuts the ball across to Ashleigh Artwell who slides the ball to Ezio who slides it back to Wilson, who cuts inside, sets to shoot then take a touch then hits a shot across the goal past the keeper into the net. GOAL! Basingstoke Town 1 – 0 Chipstead (Wilson 6 mins)

Chipstead then have the next few minutes of play but are unable to put any attack of note on our goal.
In the 18th minute, Chipstead break down the right, but fortunately the cross is straight into Mark Scott’s hands.
Scott Armsworth and a Chipstead football both go in the book, after the linesman attracts the referee’s attention.

Ashleigh Artwell then has a shot from 25yds that flies over the bar and from the goal-kick Chipstead attack dangerously deep into our half, but a neat interception by Ben Mason puts an end to the attack.

Twenty five minutes in, Stoke seem unable to create anything moving forwards, which gives Chipstead more possession in our half.
We win a free-kick 25 yds out after Artwell gets fouled. The kick by Ezio hits the wall and Chipstead clear.

Still nothing to note with ten minutes before the break.
Then in the 39th minute, Chipstead break again down the right, the cross finds a Chipstead forward who looks to shoot from close range, but a combined block of Scott and Scotty Armsworth are able to block his shot and we are able to kick the ball clear.

Stoke then have their next real chance as James Clark chips the ball over the back four to where both Ezio & Wilson are first to the ball, and it’s Wilson who hits a shot, but it flies wide of the far post.

The referee plays two minutes of added-time, before blowing for halftime, and Stoke head into the break leading by the Bradley Wilson finish.

Halftime – Basingstoke Town 1 v 0 Chipstead
Before the game gets back underway, Stoke make their first change with the expected change with Artwell being replaced by Stefan Brown in his first appearance of the season.

The first attack of note falls to Chipstead as they break down the left and the cross is headed by a Chipstead forward, and Scott is up and palms the ball over the crossbar for a corner. Nothing comes from the corner.

Then in the 49th minute, we break up a Chipstead attack, and we find Wilson moving forwards who slides the ball through to Reid, who takes one touch and then from an acute angle, hits a left-footed shot that beats the keeper at the near post. GOAL!! Basingstoke Town 2 – 0 Chipstead (Reid 49 mins)

Before the game restarts, we are forced into our second substitution, as Michael Atkinson is forced off with an injury and is replaced by Callum Winchcombe.

Chipstead then have a couple of attacks, which both end with corners that we are able to defend.
James Clark then goes in the book for a tackle on a Chipstead player (55 mins).

Chipstead have another attack and their forward appears to go down after trying to go round Scott, but there’s no whistle and we then win a free-kick after a push by a Chipstead player.
Chipstead have another couple of attacks over the next few minutes, but both shots are pretty woeful flying wide of the goal.
In an effort to get back into the game, Chipstead make all three changes with twenty minutes to go.

Stoke are still struggling to create any attack of note, and we win our first corner in the 73rd minute. Nothing however comes from the corner.

Chipstead they have scored as they break into our box and chip our keeper, but the ball fortunately bounces wide of the far post.

We move into the last ten minutes and Stoke are pushing forward and a nice move ends up with Reid sending over a dangerous low cross, that Ezio is inches away from getting a touch to it.
We continue to push forward and we push down the right through Mason who finds Wilson inside the box, but the ball tangles under his foot and his shot hits the keeper rebounds back to him, who as he falls to the ground clips the ball past the keeper. GOAL!!! Basingstoke Town 3 – 0 Chipstead (Wilson 82 mins)

The fight appears to have been knocked out of Chipstead and we break again and a cross ends up with Ezio trying a bicycle kick that falls a yard wide of the near post.
We make our final change with young academy player Noah Shengun replacing a strong performance from George Reid (88 mins).

Chipstead have one more attack and this time the shot beats Scott but rebounds of the post and we are able to hoof the ball clear.
The referee plays five minutes of added-time, before blowing the final whistle.

Full-time Score: Basingstoke Town 3 v 0 Chipstead
Bradley Wilson 6 & 82 mins
George Reid 53 mins

Match Thought’s
With Stoke missing a number of starters, the defence was superb today, marshalled by Michael Atkinson who unfortunately picked up a knock. Good to see both Artwell and Stefan Brown play 45 minutes in their return to fitness. Another two goals by Bradley Wilson.

Up Next:
We have a week to get some players back fit before we host league leaders Northwood next Saturday.
Match Report by Martin French..