Match Report: Bracknell Town 3 – 2 Basingstoke Town – Monday 25th August 2025

Southern League Premier South – Monday 25th August 2025
Bracknell Town 3 v 2 Basingstoke Town Attendance 891
Where: Bottom Meadow, Sandhurst. GU47 9BJ
Manager Dan Brownlie’s line-up for this Bank Holiday game against rivals Bracknell was: 1. Simon Grant, 2. Elliott Legg, 3. Joseph O’Loughlin, 4. James Dickson, 5. Jack Ball, 6. Billy Upton (Capt), 7. Bradley Wilson, 8. Josh Green, 9. Robbie Gallagher, 10.Ben Cook, 11 Joel Rollinson,
On the bench: 12. Markus Johnson-Schuster 14. George Reid, 15. James Clark, 16. D’Andre Brown & 17. Scott Armsworth
Referee – Robert Ablitt

Basingstoke got off to the perfect start and possibly scored their fastest goal in club history, as we attacked from the kick-off, and Josh Green fed the ball to Bradley Wilson, who cut inside from the left, and guided his shot into the right-hand corner of the net. GOAL! Bracknell Town 0 – 1 Basingstoke Town (Wilson 1 min)

Stoke continued to push forward using Robbie Gallagher down the right, and Wilson down the left, and crosses from both players, were held by the Bracknell keeper.

Bracknell started to push forward winning corners on both sides over the next few minutes, but these were comfortably defended.

Wilson then came inches away from making it two, as his shot slid past the far right-hand post.

Just past the twenty minute mark, Bracknell controversially got back into the game, as they broke past our backline, but Simon Grant made one then a second fantastic stop, but the ball was nodded on and with another Bracknell forward in an offside position, knocked home the loose ball. Bracknell 1-1 Basingstoke
The equaliser appeared to give the homeside the impetus, as they started pushing forward with a couple of neat passing movements, but Jack Ball and then Green put a stop to them

The next ten minutes was a battle in the midfield, with neither team troubling the keeper.

Gallagher in the last minute of normal time, then beat two defenders but his left-footed shot, was easily held by the keeper.
The referee called time on the first-half, with us level at the break.

Halftime Score: Bracknell Town 1 – 1 Basingstoke Town
The game got off to a quiet start, but Bracknell broke and their forward made no mistake and we went behind. Bracknell 2-1 Basingstoke

Stoke then made it’s first change of the game, as Elliott Legg, was replaced by Markus Johnson-Schuster (57 mins), which a minute later was followed by our second change as Billy Upton was replaced by Scott Armworth (58 mins).

Stoke’s first real chance of the second-half came on the hour-mark, when Wilson hit a shot that was kicked out by the keeper for a corner.
We made our third change as Joel Rollinson was replaced by George Reid (66 mins).

Bracknell came close to doubling their lead, but first Grant made a fine save palming the ball away. Then thirty seconds later, a Bracknell forward headed into the side-netting when he should have scored.

We made our fourth change with James Dickson, replaced by James Clark (72 mins).

The Bracknell keeper then made another with his feet from a James Clark shot.
Bracknell then made it three, as a well-hit volley beats Grant from long-distance. Bracknell 3-1 Basingstoke
We then immediately make our final change as Josh Green was replaced by D’Andre Brown (84 mins)

Stoke pushed forward but we could not find that open space to hit a clear shot. Stoke did finally get their second goal as Reid forced home a shot from close range. GOAL!! Bracknell Town 3 – 2 Basingstoke Town (Reid 90 mins)
Stoke looked for the equaliser, but it was not to arrive, and we went down to defeat at Bracknell.

Full-time Score: Bracknell Town 3 v 2 Basingstoke Town
Grant 22 mins, Bowerman 49 mins,          Wilson 1 min, Reid 90 mins,
Pavey 83 mins,

Match Thought’s
Bradley Wilson’s 100th goal for the club, was one of very few good points, in a game we allowed to get away from us, not helped by yet another terrible officiating decision on Bracknell’s first goal.
Bradley’s goal timed at 15 seconds. Would love to know if we ever scored a goal quicker than that.
For periods of the second-half we failed to really test their keeper, who made more saves with his feet than his hands.
We badly miss a centre-forward.
Up Next:
We have a break from the league, as we travel to fellow-league side Gosport Borough, in a big FA Cup match-up next Saturday 30th August (KO 3pm)

Match Report by Martin French..