Southern League Premier South Division – Saturday 9th March 2024
Basingstoke Town 3 v 2 Hendon Attendance 616
Where: Winklebury Sports Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Dan Brownlie went with a starting line-up of: 1. Simon Grant, 2. Curts Angell, 3. Massimo Giamattei, 4. Elliott Bolton, 5. James Clark, 6. Billy Upton (Capt), 7. Bradley Wilson, 8. Ben Cook, 9. Liam Ferdinand, 10. Paul Hodges, 11. Luis Le Paih
On the bench: Stefan Brown, Shamar Moore, George Reid, Scott Armsworth & Dan Rowe
Referee – Robert Harrison
Following a well observed minutes silence, remembering fans who have passed, the game got underway and there was little to note, until the eighth minute, when the visitors worked there way into our penalty area, and forced Simon Grant into a diving save, as he pushed the shot out for a corner. Nothing came from the corner, or another one, two minutes later.
Stoke were still struggling to create anything in Hendon’s final third, and it took until the twentieth minute, before Luis Le Paih forced Hendon’s keeper into a comfortable save. A further Stoke shot came a minute later, as Bradley Wilson, cut in from the left wing and hit a strong shot that forced the keeper to make the save down low by the near left-hand post.
The game was still struggling to get going as we moved close to the half-hour mark, as a corner from new-signing Elliott Bolton was headed over the bar by Billy Upton.
Hendon were the team showing slightly more initiative, but Stoke’s defence was holding firm, but then an injury to Ben Cook, culminated in him being forced to leave the field and replaced by Stefan Brown, as we moved into the last five minutes of the first-half.
Then in the final minute of normal time, a challenge in our penalty area, was given as a foul, as the referee awarded Hendon a penalty, which was converted putting Hendon in the lead. Basingstoke 0-1 Hendon
The referee played a further five minutes of added-time, before blowing the halftime whistle, on a game that had rarely shown very little life, as Stoke went into the break a goal behind.
Halftime – Basingstoke Town 0 v 1 Hendon
The second-half got underway, with Stoke showing a lot more promise, as we forced a corner and then two throw-ins deep in Hendon’s half.
A further throw-in was the undoing of Hendon, as Upton’s diving header along the by-line was handled by a Hendon defender, and the referee awarded Stoke the penalty. Bradley Wilson made no mistake, in putting the ball away GOAL! Basingstoke Town 1 – 1 Hendon (Wilson 52 mins Pen)
The equaliser seemed to bring the game into life, as Stoke came looking for a second, and a neat move started by Paul Hodges who won the ball on the halfway line then slipped the ball to Le Paih, whose pass to Wilson, allowed him to break down the left, and flash a cross past the face of the goal and out for a goal-kick.
Stoke then broke from a long clearance by Upton, as Liam Ferdinand outmuscled his defender, and then sent a cross to Massimo Giamattei, but a defender was first to the cross and headed it out for another Stoke corner, which Hendon were able to clear.
Stoke’s continued pressure finally counted, as from a throw-in on the right, good work by Ferdinand allowed him to slip the ball to Hodges, who drilled his shot from the edge of the penalty area, into the bottom corner of the net GOAL!! Basingstoke Town 2 – 1 Hendon (Hodges 65 mins)
There’s a delay to the restart as Simon Grant receives treatment in goal.
A few minutes later, Stoke struck again as Hodges slid the ball through to Wilson who raced clear of Hendon’s defence, and he makes no mistake, clipping the ball past the Hendon keeper and into the net. GOAL!!! Basingstoke Town 3 – 1 Hendon (Wilson 72 mins)
It’s time for our second change, as Billy Upton who has been carrying on with a knock, is replaced by Scott Armsworth (74 mins)
Hendon come straight back at us, as a shot from outside the box, flies high and wide. Then another cross from the right, is met by a Hendon head, forcing a superb save from Grant, who parries it away and Curtis Angell, hooked the ball clear.
We made our third change, as Paul Hodges is replaced by the returning Dan Rowe (79 mins).
Another Hendon attack, as they win ball in midfield and attack down the left. Their player hits a shot that rebounds off the woodwork to a Hendon player who forces a superb save from Grant, only for the ball to fall to another Hendon player who taps the ball home. Basingstoke 3-2 Hendon
Stoke have a brief respite as a free-kick into the Hendon penalty area is met by Armsworth who heads back across the goalmouth, but Hendon are first to it and hook the ball clear.
Hendon attack once more, but Ferdinand makes two clearing headers, as we hold on, as the referee indicates a minimum of eight added-minutes.
Stoke continue to keep Hendon at bay, but not without another scare, as first a shot is blocked out for a corner, then a Hendon forward somehow hooks the ball over the bar, in front of goal.
We reach the eight minute of added-time, and the referee blows the final whistle on another Basingstoke win.
Fulltime Score: Basingstoke Town 3 v 2 Hendon
Wilson 52 (pen) & 72 mins, White 45 mins Pen,
Hodges 65 mins Muir 81 mins,
Match Thought’s
Another victory gives us six wins out of our last seven, even though it took us sometime to get going, as we burst out of the halftime interval. Two more for Bradley Wilson and Paul Hodges first of the season, are enough to hold, with Simon Grant, making some key saves at the end.
A big effort by all the players, gives us the victory and pushes us up into ninth in the table. Best wishes to Ben Cook who picked up another concerning injury.
Up Next:
We head back up into London this Tuesday evening, to take on Hayes & Yeading Utd in the rearranged match from a week ago. Kick-off 7.45pm at the Skyex Community Stadium.
Match Report by Martin French..
English 
Polish 
Another good win. Came out second half more determined and thought Hodges was great.