Southern League Premier South Division – Saturday 14th October 2023
Basingstoke Town 4 v 2 Poole Town Attendance 893
Where: Winklebury Sports Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Dan Brownlie’s line-up for the match against Poole Town was: 1. Mark Scott, 2. Markus Johnson-Schuster, 3. Callum Winchcombe, 4. Michael Atkinson (Capt), 5. Nathan Smart, 6. William Upton, 7. Bradley Wilson, 8. Luis Le Paih, 9. Dan Rowe, 10. James Clark, 11. D’Andre Brown
On the bench: Simon Dunn, George Reid, Harvey Collins, Noah Chengun & Paul Strudley
Referee – Adam Merchant
On a sunny but chilly Saturday afternoon in October, the game got underway with Stoke defending the new extended terraced railway end, and there was very little to note in the first five minutes.
Our first attack earns us a corner down the left. The kick is taken short to Michael Atkinson, who tries to find space to cross, but then slides the ball back to Bradley Wilson, who sends in a curling cross, that Dan Rowe is up and outjumps his defender and glances his header in the far corner of the net GOAL! Basingstoke Town 1 – 0 Poole Town (Rowe 8 mins)
Then whilst the fans are still celebrating around the ground, we break again deep into their half, and Rowe hits a shot that forces a great save out of the Poole keeper, but the falls to an on-running Luis Le Paih who hits a shot that has the keeper beaten, but the ball bounces off the left-hand post and away, allowing Poole to clear out for a corner. The corner is scrambled away.
The visitors then have a couple of minutes of possession which ends with a Poole forward been giving time to put a decent shot on goal that Mark Scott is able to dive to his right and make the save.
A minute later Poole come forward again, and clip the ball into out penalty area, and Callum Winchcombe in trying to clear the ball, flicks the ball past Scott in goal and into our own net. Basingstoke 1-1 Poole
Stoke are back on it and another neat passing move gives Wilson the chance to shoot, but his hot flies wide of the post.
After that pulsating end-to-end twenty minute start, the next few minutes see very little to note, but it’s Poole who finally have the next attack, as a cross from the left, rolls past the face of the goal, and a well-timed tackle wins us a goal-kick from the follow-up.
The next attack is from the visitors again, as we once more don’t shut-down their player, who smashes a shot towards the goal, which Scott gets a fingertip to as it flies just over the bar. However, the Poole players are unhappy as the referee awards a goal-kick.
Billy Upton then makes two timely interceptions from Poole attacks.
Stoke’s next attack has us attacking down the right, and Rowe is fed the ball and he cuts inside and hits a left-foot shot that is deflected out for a corner. The corner sees Upton head the ball comfortably over the bar.
We are now in the final couple of minutes of the half and Stoke are pushing forward, but are unable to put anything of note on the visitors goal.
The referee allows two minutes of added-time before blowing for the halftime whistle, with everything to play for in the second-half.
Halftime – Basingstoke Town 1 v 1 Poole Town
With no halftime changes by Stoke, the game gets back underway with Stoke pushing for the next goal, and a nice interception (the first of many), by Markus Johnson-Schuster allows him to break clear, but the move between him Rowe is defended well by the visitors defence.
Stoke’s next attack has Wilson cross from the left wing but it is blocked away, but we attack again through Wilson once more, and he uses the space given to him, as he cuts inside and hits a low right-foot shot that beats the keeper at the near post and Stoke retake the lead. GOAL!! Basingstoke Town 2 – 1 Poole Town (Wilson 55 mins)
The next couple of minutes has Poole coming forward, but good tackles by Winchcombe and then Michael Atkinson put an end to their attacks.
The game is now being fought in midfield with us winning most of the key battles, and Dan decides it’s time to make his first change, with Simon Dunn replacing D’Andre Brown (68 mins).
Then in the 79th minute Stoke win a free-kick about six yards outside the Poole penalty area. James Clark steps over the ball, allowing Rowe to hit the free-kick over the wall, and despite the keeper getting a hand to it, the ball finds the back of the net GOAL!!! Basingstoke Town 3 – 1 Poole Town (Rowe 74 mins)
It must be a windy day out there, as the Poole keeper has now cleared the ball, kicking it straight out over the fence and out the ground.
Stoke then make their second change as George Reid replaces James Clark.
Poole then win another corner down the right, but the kick is once again headed harmlessly over the bar by a Poole player.
Markus Johnson-Schuster makes two more timely interceptions, as Poole look to get back in the game, as we head into the last five minutes of normal time.
We seem unable to hold onto the ball, as we lose it twice in the space of thirty seconds, and we are made to pay for it, as Poole break down the left and a shot beats Scott in goal, and Poole pull a goal back. Basingstoke 3-2 Poole
The referee confirms that we will play a minimum of five minutes of added-time and Stoke make their third change with Bradley Wilson being replaced by Noah Chengun.
Chengun is straight in the action, as he breaks down the left, then sends over a cross that flies across the face of the goal and out for a goal-kick.
Now deep into the added-time, we win a free-kick deep in the visitors half, which when taken rebounds straight to Chengun, who has time and space to take two touches before sliding the ball past the Poole keeper and into the back of the net. GOAL!!! Basingstoke Town 4 – 2 Poole Town (Chengun 95 mins)
The game restarts and a few seconds later the referee has seen enough and blows the final whistle, and Stoke get back to winning ways in the league.
Full-time Score : Basingstoke Town 4 v 2 Poole Town
Rowe 8 & 55 mins, Wilson 55 mins, Chengun 95 mins Winchcombe OG 14 mins, Wright 88 mins
Match Thought’s
Another entertaining match between two teams both looking to attack at every chance. Stoke finally took control in the second-half and although conceding another late goal, we were worthy of all three points.
Another two goals by striker Dan Rowe, gives him double-figures on the season, with another for Bradley Wilson and on-loan Noah Chengun back to score his first of the season.
More important minutes for both Simon Dunn & George Reid, bring them both close to earning their starting places back, which will be needed over the up-coming games.
Up Next:
We head back out on the road this Tuesday evening (17th), to new rivals Bracknell Town in this unnecessarily rearranged fixture
Match Report by Martin French..
Nice report, some big games coming thick and fast now.