FA Trophy 1st Qualifying Round – Tuesday 13th September 2022
Basingstoke Town 5 v 3 Cirencester Town Attendance TBC
Where: Winklebury Sports Complex, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Ten-Man Stoke slip out of FA Trophy despite Ezio hat-trick
Dan’s starting line-up for this evening’s FA Trophy match was: 1. Paul Strudley, 2. Ben Mason, 3. Callum Winchcombe, 4. Scott Armsworth, 5. Nathan Smart, 6. Billy Upton, 7. Luis Le Paih, 8. Simon Dunn (Capt) 9. Ezio Touray, 10. Sam Argent, 11. Bradley Wilson,
On the bench: James Clark, James Hayworth, Marcio Neves, George Reid, Dan Williamson, Aiden Lewis & Anton Rodgers
Referee – Vladyslav Bakulin
The game moved 72 hours on, and on a wet rainy night got underway with Stoke attacking the carpark end and it was the visitors who pushed forward in the first few minutes.
Then in the 9th minute a cross from the right wing, and a Cirencester forward has what looks like a free header and heads it into the corner of the net and we go a goal behind. Stoke 0 – 1 Cirencester
From the restart we then break down the right as Ben Mason finds Bradley Wilson, whose shot come cross, is gathered by the Centurions keeper.
Then just two minutes, from a throw-in the ball falls to a Cirencester player who hits a shot that rebounds off the arm of a Ben Upton just two yards away, and the referee baffles the crowd as he points to the spot and books Upton as well. The Cirencester forwards send Paul Strudley the wrong way, as they double their lead.
In the 15th minute, we have our next attack, as Wilson receives the ball, this time down the left, but he cuts inside the penalty area and lets shot that flies wide of the post.
Then two minutes later we attack again, and Ezio Touray, receives the ball on the left, takes the ball inside and lets fly, that has the keeper motionless, as it flies into the far corner of the net GOAL! Basingstoke Town 1 – 2 Cirencester Town (Touray 17 mins)
The referee gives another strange free-kick to the visitors. The free-kick is headed clear by Upton.
A minute later it is Strudley who recovers the ball and throws the ball to Mason, who stretches for the ball and a Cirencester player touches the ball just before Nathan Smart flies in and takes him out. Smart unsurprisingly goes in the book. The free-kick flies over the bar.
Nothing to note from either side in the next ten minutes.
Then from a Centurion cross, Strudley wins the ball, but the referee blows for a free-kick, and Strudley throws the ball out quickly, only for the referee to call the game back, and then books Strudley.
A minute later we attack again and it’s Luis Le Paih, takes the ball deep into the visitors half and let’s fly, that beats the keeper, but it rebounds off the post and up into the air and somehow, Ezio knocks it over the bar from 3 yards.
We then win a free-kick, and from the kick, the cross, the referee blows his whistle and then proceeds to show Smart another yellow card, followed by the red and Smart is off.
The last few minutes of the first-half has the crowd making their feelings known to the referee.
The referee plays three minutes of added time and then blows the halftime whistle.
Halftime – Basingstoke Town 1 v 2 Cirencester Town
The game gets back underway and rumours are flying about that the FA assessor for tonight’s game has stated that the referee is a Ukrainian, who speaks little or no English. The visitors force a good save out of Strudley in the 48th minute.
A minute later the Centurion keeper has to push the ball over the crossbar from a dangerous Mason cross.
Then in the 51st minute a Cirencester shot appears to deflect off a Stoke defender and rolls wide of Strudley and into the net. Stoke 1-3 Cirencester.
From the restart we then break and the ball is pushed through to Ezio who takes two touches than thumps it past the keeper into the net. GOAL !! Basingstoke Town 2 – 3 Cirencester Town (Touray 52 mins)
Ezio goes in the referee’s book again a few minutes later, but not for noting another goal, but a yellow card for a tackle.
In the 63rd minute, Cirencester break from an error in midfield and somehow a wide-open forward puts the ball into the side-netting from four yards,
We then make our first change on 64 minutes with James Clark replacing Sam Argent.
We then go 4-2 down as Cirencester break from our attack, and a simple finish past Strudley in goal.
It’s Bradley Wilson’s turn to get a yellow card.
We then make our second substitution with George Reid replacing Callum Winchcombe.
Strudley comes to our rescue once again, as he makes a fine save.
Cirencester seem to have control of the game, as we are unable to hold onto the ball in their half.
We make our third change with Marcio Neves replacing Bradley Wilson (78 mins).
Another attack from Cirencester produces another penalty as a late tackle, brings down their forward. The penalty is put away by Adulai Sambu to get his hat-trick and we fall behind 5-2 to Cirencester.
Then from a Stoke attack in injury-time a challenge on Ezio, sees the referee award a penalty to Stoke. Ezio puts down the middle past the keeper. GOAL !!! Basingstoke Town 3 – 5 Cirencester Town (Touray 93 mins). That’s Touray’s hat-trick.
Some unnecessary time-wasting by their keeper, does not help the crowds feeling of the game.
The referee blows the full-time whistle and we will not be in the draw for the next round of the Trophy.
Full-time Score: Basingstoke Town 3 v 5 Cirencester Town
Ezio Touray 17, 52 & 93 (Pen) mins Irving 9 mins, Lee 12, Sambu 51, 69 & 82 (Pen) mins
Match Thought’s
Well ten days apart, we are now dumped out of both FA competitions for another season.
Not the best of defensive performances, which are not helped by some shocking refereeing decisions apparently by the referee. Yet another star performance by young Ezio Touray.
Up Next:
Well we now return to league action, this Saturday as we host Ashford Town.
Match Report by Martin French..
English 
Polish 