Match Report: Dorchester Town 3 – 2 Basingstoke Town – Saturday 28th December 2024

Southern League Premier South – Saturday 28th December 2024
Dorchester Town 3 v 2 Basingstoke Town Attendance 756
Where: The Avenue Stadium, Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester. DT1 2RY
Manager Dan Brownlie with enforced changes, went with his last line-up of 2024 : 1. Simon Grant, 2. Markus Johnson-Schuster, 3. Aleks Kokoszka, 4. Rudy Allen, 5. Jack Ball, 6. James Clark, 7. Ben Cook, 8. Sam Deadfield, 9. Liam Ferdinand, 10. Robbie Gallagher, 11. Luis Le Paih
On the bench: Brody Peart, Nnamdi Nwachuku, D’Andre Brown, Scott Armsworth, & Jonny Efedje
Referee – Robert Ablitt

The game got off to a quiet start, with very little to note, until the tenth minute, when a Dorchester striker with the net gaping, scuffed the ball over the bar, after Simon Grant could only parry a shot from another Dorchester forward.

Dorchester continued to be the team likely to break the deadlock, whilst Stoke’s only attack was a shot from Rudy Allen, that curled wide just before the midway point in the first-half.
Dorchester continued to press, but any attacks ended with Simon Grant making comfortable saves.

However, just past the half-hour, Dorchester took the lead, after a cross from the left, was headed home at the back-post. Dorchester 1-0 Basingstoke

Stoke had the final couple of minutes of possession, but it only resulted in Marcus Johnson-Schuster’s prodded shot wide of the post.
The referee allowed one minute of added-time before blowing for halftime.

Halftime Score: Dorchester Town 1 v 0 Basingstoke Town
It was Dorchester who came out looking to double their lead, but we defended two dangerous corners.

One of our assistants Brian Parson’s was then asked to leave the dugout, I assume for not agreeing with the referee’s decisions.

Basingstoke then made a double-change, as Ben Cook was replaced by Brody Peart, and the returning Scott Armsworth replacing Aleks Kokoszka (53 mins).
The change worked wonders, but our equaliser came from the keeper allowing Liam Ferdinand, to dispossess him of the ball, but his shot hit the foot of the left-hand post and rebounded out to a waiting Luis Le Paih who slotted home past the helpless defender on the line GOAL! Dorchester Town 1 – 1 Basingstoke Town (Le Paih 57 mins)

Peart’s insertion into the team gave us an extra option on the right, and we took the lead via his cross on the right after good work from Ferdinand and then Allen, as a Dorchester defender deflected the cross into his own net GOAL!! Dorchester Town 1 – 2 Basingstoke Town (Dickson OG 60 mins)

Stoke continued to be the team on top, as Robbie Gallagher endless desire put constant pressure on the Dorchester defence,

Dorchester who made a number of changes to get back into the game, then broke from our attack, but once again Grant was there to save low down at the near post.

Stoke then made its third change as D’Andre Brown replaced Luis Le Paih (74 mins).
Dorchester won two further corners, but both came to nothing, and Stoke made its fourth change as Liam Ferdinand was replaced by Nnamdi Nwachuku (78 mins).

Peart continued to push the Dorchester defence back, but a shot from long-distance was comfortably held by the homeside keeper.

Calls for a Dorchester penalty with five minutes remaining, were waived away, but three minutes later they were awarded a spot-kick after it appeared Grant pulled down a Dorchester striker. The penalty kick was duly put away. Dorchester 2-2 Basingstoke

With five added-minutes announced, Stoke made its final change when Robbie Gallagher was replaced by Jonny Efedje (92 mins).
Stoke continued to push for the winner, and won a corner on the right, but Jack Ball who had gone up for the corner, was then directed to return to the hallway line, which caused disbelief by the large Stoke contingent behind the goal, who were looking for the winner.

A minute later, Dorchester broke and another diving header found the back of the net, which put them ahead for good Dorchester 3-2 Basingstoke
Thirty seconds after the restart, the referee blew the final whistle and Stoke’s second-half fight-back counted for nothing, as we went down to defeat.

Full-time Score: Dorchester Town 3 v 2 Basingstoke Town
Pardoe 31 mins, Koszela 89 min Pen            Le Paih 57 mins, Dickson OG 63 mins,
Robinson 95 mins,

Match Thought’s
As always initial post-match comments can be harsh on Management & players at times, but Stoke who had deservedly fought back and were worthy of a point, somehow allowed Dorchester to take all three. Stoke who were hindered by changes to our starting defence defended valiantly for a lot of the game, was in the end to come to no avail.
Good to see Luis Le Paih get some proper gametime and Brody Peart again played well once he was introduced into the game.
With just seventy-two hours it will be interesting to see whose ready or able to play three games in a week.
Up Next:
We have a 1pm KO at Bracknell on New Years Day.

Match Report by Martin French..

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