Southern League Premier South Division – Saturday 26th August 2023
Didcot Town 2 v 3 Basingstoke Town Attendance 334
Where: Loop Meadow Stadium, Bowmont Water Ladygrove, Didcot OX11 7GA
Dan’s first of two Bank Holiday starting line-ups was: 1. Paul Strudley, 2. Markus Johnson-Schuster, 3. Callum Winchcombe, 4. Michael Atkinson (Capt), 5. Billy Upton, 6. Scott Armsworth, 7. Bradley Wilson, 8. D’Andre Brown, 9. Morrison Hashii, 10. Dan Rowe, 11. George Reid
On the bench: Marcio Neves, Ben Cook, Kai Hobbs, James Clark & Josh De-Lacy Turner
Referee – Luke Bowles
The fifth game of our season got underway with Stoke on the attack in the first minute, as Bradley Wilson took the ball down the left wing and sent over a low cross, which George Reid meets and hits a shot that the keeper saves down low at the near post.
Stoke are straight back on the attack and we push into the penalty area, and there are calls for a penalty after D’Andre Brown is fouled, and the referee points to the spot. Bradley Wilson’s penalty shot is however saved down low by the right-hand post.
The penalty miss does not deter Wilson who two minutes later then picks up a through ball, rounds the keeper and slots the ball home into an empty net GOAL! Didcot Town 0 – 1 Basingstoke Town (Wilson 6 mins)
Stoke continued to press forward, and we win a corner on the right after good work from Morrison Hashii. Nothing comes from the corner.
Didcot have a little bit of possession, but first Marcus Johnson-Schuster and then Billy Upton deal with their attacks.
Stoke are still the more enterprising side and are looking to double their lead, and this comes on 22 minutes, when the ball is passed to Reid who chests down the ball, then goes on one of his mazy runs going past two defenders as he cuts in on the left and then lets fly a left-footed shot that leaves the keeper no chance as the ball curls into the far corner of the net. GOAL!! Didcot Town 0 – 2 Basingstoke Town (Reid 6 mins)
Didcot then force a good save out Paul Strudley in goal.
Then just before the half-hour, another Stoke attack starts with Michael Atkinson pushes forward with the ball into the Didcot and finds Reid who takes the ball down the wing and sends over a cross that Rowe heads towards the goal, only for the Didcot keeper to make a fine save.
Didcot then pull a goal back seven minutes before the break, as a ball bounces down from a challenge on Strudley in goal, and a Didcot forward is first to it, and he knocks the ball home. Didcot 1-2 Basingstoke
Then within thirty seconds of the restart, Didcot attack again, and Paul Strudley makes a world class save from a Didcot header, as he pushes the ball over the bar.
We move into the final few minutes of the half, and Stoke are looking to reassert their two goal lead, but a shot from outside the box, is saved by the Didcot keeper.
The referee plays just over two minutes of added-time before blowing for the final whistle.
Halftime Score: Didcot Town 1 v 2 Basingstoke Town
The second-half is underway with no changes to the Stoke line-up, and it’s Didcot who create the first chance as a shot is saved by Strudley.
The game moves past the hour mark with Stoke still trying to get a foothold in the game as Didcot are pushing for an equaliser.
We win a corner down the left, but again nothing comes from it.
We still seem unable to put any real pressure on the Didcot keeper.
Strudley makes another fine save down low from a Didcot shot.
Then with twenty minutes to go, Didcot pull the game level 92-2), and the restart is delayed as a player from each side are on the ground. The Didcot player is up and ok, whilst Scott Armsworth has a head injury and he receives further treatment on the sidelines, including a Terry Butcher style headband. The good news is that he is able to return.
Stoke make their first change on 79 mins, with James Clark replacing Morrison Hashii.
Stoke have a little bit of play in the Didcot penalty area, but are still unable to put a shot on the goal.
We then make our second change with Ben Cook replacing D’Andre Brown (83 mins).
Strudley then makes another fine saves, as he pushes a shot around the post.
We are now in the first of nine added minutes and Clark heads on a free-kick, and Rowe is just beaten to the ball, but forces the defender to put it out for a throw-in. Didcot clear but we push forward again, and Clark wins a tackle, then takes the ball down the left and sends over a low cross, that Rowe, is unable to get a touch to, but the ball reaches Reid at the far post, who sweeps the ball home GOAL!!! Didcot Town 2 – 3 Basingstoke Town (Reid 93 mins)
We make our third and final change with Kai Hobbs replacing Dan Rowe.
Didcot then have one more attack, but the header flies wide of the far post.
The referee plays eleven minutes of added-time, before blowing the final whistle, and Stoke win back-to-back games.
Full-time Score: Didcot Town 2 v 3 Basingstoke Town
Learoyd 38 mins, Putland 70 mins Wilson 6 mins, Reid 22 & 93 mins
Match Thought’s
Well a game literally of two halves as Stoke should have been out of sight after the first twenty five minutes, and then a second-half which we never got going and had no control and had to rely on Paul Strudley’s excellent saves to keep us in the game. George Reid goes to the top of the Stoke goal-scoring chart with two more goals. The first a stunning run and shot, the second that all-important goal in added time.
Hopefully we haven’t picked up anymore injuries and Scott Armsworth is ok for Monday’s game. We now sit in tenth in the table with seven points from five games.
Up Next:
In forty eight hours-time we host rivals AFC Totton on Bank Holiday Monday with a 3pm KO
Match Report by Martin French..
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