Southern League Premier South Division – Saturday 23rd September 2023
Basingstoke Town 3 v 3 Walton & Hersham Attendance 1115
Where: Winklebury Sports, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Dan Brownlie’s line-up had three changes from Saturday’s win at Didcot and was: 1. Paul Strudley, 2. Markus Johnson-Schuster, 3. Callum Winchcombe, 4. Michael Atkinson (Capt) 5. Nathan Smart, 6. William Upton, 7. Bradley Wilson, 8.Ben Cook, 9. Dan Rowe, 10. Ashleigh Artwell, 11. Paul Hodges
On the bench: Kai Hobbs, James Clark, Morrison Hashii, D’Andre Brown & Sam Argent
Referee – Stuart Kyle
The first of last season’s rivalry games got underway with Stoke attacking the car-park end in the first half, but there was little to note in the first few minutes, as both teams sized each other up.
Stoke were the first to test either keeper, as the ball was pushed out to Bradley Wilson on the left, who cut inside and hit a shot that the Walton keeper held low down by the near post.
This seemed to wake the visitors up, as they forced three corners over the next few minutes, which we were able to clear.
Stoke’s next notable attack was on fifteen minutes, as a neat move into the Walton half, found Wilson who cut down the left, but his cross is blocked out for a corner. Billy Upton gets his head to the corner kick, but the referee has blown for a foul inside the six yard box.
We move close to the half-hour mark, with still very little goalmouth action, whilst a couple of heavy tackles by Walton go unpunished by the referee.
We then lose the ball as we play out from the back, and the ball falls to a Walton forward directly in front of the goal who dithers on the ball allowing a defender to get back and block his shot and we are able to scramble the ball clear.
However, minutes later we lose the ball again in our own half, and from this Walton attack, they are able to find work the ball inside our penalty area and their forward smashes his shot past Paul Strudley in goal and we go behind. Basingstoke 0-1 Walton & Hersham.
Now in the last few minutes of the half, we look to break again through Wilson, who beats his defender and has just the keeper to beat, but his shot is well-saved, but rebounds across the goal to where Ben Cook runs onto the ball and slams his shot into the roof of the net. GOAL! Basingstoke Town 1 – 1 Walton & Hersham (Cook 44 mins)
Now three minutes into added-time, Walton retake the lead as a a shot from outside the penalty, is deflected off a Stoke defender past Strudley in goal. Basingstoke 1-2 Walton & Hersham
The referee plays a further minute of added-time before blowing the halftime, as we go into the break behind.
Halftime – Basingstoke Town 1 v 2 Walton & Hersham
With no changes by the Stoke side the game gets back underway with us attacking the railway-end, but it’s Walton who have the best of the opening minutes of the half, but are unable to put anything of note on our goal.
Stoke have a brief attack this time down the right and a neat pass finds Markus Johnson-Schuster inside the penalty area, but his shot from an acute angle is saved by the keeper.
We are now approaching the hour-mark, and there’s been very little goalmouth action by other side.
The referee has however found his book, and he books a couple of players for both sides, then yellow cards our Manager.
Stoke are now showing signs of pushing for an equaliser, and the goal finally comes, as Wilson’s cross from the left, is initially blocked away, but we retrieve the rebound and Dan Rowe, finds Ashleigh Artwell who curls his shot into the far corner of the goal. GOAL!! Basingstoke Town 2 – 2 Walton & Hersham (Artwell 68 mins)
The restart is held up for a couple of minutes as Paul Strudley receives treatment for an injury.
When the game does restart, Walton put themselves under immediate pressure, as a back pass forces their keeper to come out of his area, and head the ball clear.
There’s a further delay, as the Walton No.2 receives treatment.
Stoke’s play has picked up, but it’s Walton who create the next chance as they force a diving save out of Strudley from a shot from 25 yards, that he pushes out for a corner. Before the kick is taken, we make our first change with Ben Cook replaced by D’Andre Brown. The kick when finally taken is well defended.
Then with ten minutes remaining we appear to have taken the lead, as a ball is knocked home by Artwell from close range, but the referee after speaking to the linesman, who never flagged for a foul, then decides to award Walton with a free-kick.
That appears to be Artwell’s last action of the game, as he is replaced by James Clark with five minutes to go in normal time.
We are now in the first of how many minutes of added-time, and it’s Walton who have a little bit of possession in our half.
Stoke then make our third and final change as Morrison Hashii replaces Paul Hodges (95 mins).
Johnson-Schuster then makes a fine tackle on the halfway-line and finds Hashii, who takes a touch and slides the ball onto Wilson on the left, who cuts inside on his right and he enters the penalty area, hits a shot that forces the Walton keeper to dive full-length and tip the ball over the bar for a corner.
The corner is met by Upton at the far post, who heads the ball back across to where Rowe is first to it, and he heads home from close range. GOAL!!! Basingstoke Town 3 – 2 Walton & Hersham (Rowe 98 mins)
Still no sign of the referee blowing the final whistle and a pass into our goalmouth finds a Walton forward, who takes a touch and is then brought down, and the referee blows for a penalty to Walton. The Walton No.2 sends Strudley the wrong way and we are back level. Basingstoke 3-3 Walton.
The referee plays another minute of added-time, before blowing the full-time whistle.
Full-time Score : Basingstoke Town 3 v 3 Walton & Hersham
Cook 44 mins, Artwell 68 mins, Rowe 98 mins, Nuur 36 mins, Gilbert 45 mins, Mills 100 mins (Pen)
Match Thought’s
Well as Dan Brownlee, put it was a very competitive game, from two promoted teams which neither team wanted to lose. Six goals, most which came in the last third of the match, with controversy at both ends.
Will be interesting to see what line-up we will put out, but really missed George Reid’s runs down the right. Now unbeaten in six games, we have two tough games on the road. Just wish we would stop playing out the back everytime as it cost us badly today.
Up Next:
We are straight back on the road with a Tuesday night fixture at Winchester City. Kick-off 7.45pm
Match Report by Martin French..
English 
Polish 