Match Report: Basingstoke Town 3 vs 0 Swindon Supermarine – Tuesday 13th August 2024

Southern League Premier South Division – Tuesday 13th August 2024
Basingstoke Town 3 v 0 Swindon Supermarine Attendance 594
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Dan Brownlie’s line-up tonight was: 1. Simon Grant, 2. Markus Johnson-Schuster, 3. Curtis Angell, 4. Rudy Allen, 5. William Upton (Capt), 6. James Clark, 7. Robbie Gallagher, 8. Max Smith, 9. Daniel Warre, 10. Paul Hodges, 11. Alfie Bridgeman
On the bench: Liam Ferdinand, Ben Cook, Jonny Efedje, George Reid, & Luis Le Paih
Referee – Neal Templey

Our opening home game of the 2024-25 season got underway with Stoke attacking the car-park end, and in the first minute, Robbie Gallagher goes on a run past two players, but his left-foot shot is saved comfortably by the keeper.
On nine minutes, Stoke have their next attack, at it’s Paul Hodges who has a determined, as his first shot is blocked, but the ball rebounds to him, and after touch to the left his second shot flies high over the bar.

Then on fifteen minutes, from what seems an innocuous throw-in down the right, Markus Johnson-Schuster throws the ball to Hodges, who takes a touch then smashes a volley that has the keeper stranded, as the ball loops over his head and into the net GOAL! Basingstoke Town 1 v 0 Swindon Supermarine (Hodges 15 mins).

Swindon have rarely troubled the Stoke goal, and this continues, as James Clark hooks the ball clear from Swindon’s attack, and Dan Warre neatly brings the ball under control, then finds Hodges, who cuts in on his left foot and let’s fly a shot that forces the keeper to push the ball out for a corner. Supermarine are able to defend the corner.

Swindon have their first notable attack on twenty-six minutes, as good work allows their forward space inside the box, but his cross is excellently blocked out for a corner by Billy Upton. The corner-kick finds a Supermarine player on his home, but his solid header, is straight at Simon Grant, who makes a good catch on the goal-line.

Stoke then force a free-kick down the left and the free-kick finds Warre beyond the far post, and he drills a right-foot shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net GOAL!! Basingstoke Town 2 v 0 Swindon Supermarine (Warre 29 mins).

There’s almost a minute of controversy, as the referee, who has made one or two weak decisions, then waves away the linesman’s call for an offside, which allows Swindon to break and a shot is blocked by one of two Stoke defenders on the line, and we clear the ball.

Swindon continue to push forward, and win a free-kick just outside the area, however the shot although hit well, flies a yard over the bar.
Very little goal-mouth action at either end, as we move into the last couple of minutes of the first-half, and then a corner from Swindon on the right, is called and then snagged out of the air by Grant.

Now into the fourth minute of added-time, Swindon break down our right and low cross is met by a Swindon striker that forces Grant to tip the ball onto the top of the bar and out for a corner. Rudy Allen makes the clearance.
A minute later the referee blows the halftime whistle as Stoke go into the break with a two-goal lead.

Halftime Score: Basingstoke Town 2 v 0 Swindon Supermarine
With Stoke now attacking the railway end the second-half got underway, and with little to note, we make our first change with George Reid replacing Alfie Bridgman (56mins).

We then win a free-kick five yards outside Supermarine’s penalty area. The kick by George Reid beats the wall and the Swindon keeper, fumbles the ball, and Warre, is first to it, and forces the ball home GOAL!!! Basingstoke Town 3 v 0 Swindon Supermarine (Warre 62 mins).

It’s time for our second change as Ben Cook replaces Paul Hodges (63 mins).
There’s a minute of commotion in our dugout, as the referee has sent off Aaron Nicholson, and also appears to have booked Manager Dan Brownlie.

The game is getting a little stop-start as first Swindon makes some more changes, followed by Stoke, who make a double-change as Markus Johnson-Schuster is replaced by Luis Le Paih and Liam Ferdinand replaces Dan Warre (70 mins)

We then win a free-kick around thirty-five yards out and the kick by Curtis Angell takes the keeper, as it has the keeper beaten but hits the crossbar and bounces away.
We then made our fifth and final change as Robbie Gallagher is replaced by Jonny Efedje (74 mins).
Rudy Allen then hits a shot from forty yards but the keeper makes a comfortable save.

The game is drifting into the final five minutes, but we still want that fourth goal, as Ferdinand is looking dangerous around the penalty box, trying to set-up Efedje for a shot.

The referee indicates a minimum of six minutes of added-time, and the small Swindon Supermarine contingent will be going home pointless, despite two late Swindon attacks, that both fly harmlessly wide of the left-hand goal.

There’s still time for one of those George Reid runs, but his cross is blocked away, which is defended. In fact there’s another Reid run and shot, that the keeper palms into the air and Swindon are able to clear.
Then in the last minute of added-time a long pass allows Ferdinand to go round the keeper and slide the ball towards the goal, only for it to rebound off the far right-hand post, and Swindon clear.
The referee has seen enough and blows the final whistle on a great start to our home campaign.

Full-time Score: Basingstoke Town 3 v 0 Swindon Supermarine
Hodges 15 mins, Warre 29 & 62 mins,

Match Thought’s
Again apart from the odd attack by Swindon, we looked in control for most of the game, with Rudy Allen seemingly everywhere throughout the ninety minutes. Another stunning Paul Hodges finish, whilst Dan Warre yet again proves what a great signing he was. The back four looked more solid and dealt with most Swindon attacks, helped by Allen & Max Smith.
Two games two wins we can’t say fairer than that.
Up Next:
We sit in second place as we host Dorchester Town this Saturday (17th) 3pm.

Match Report by Martin French..