Match Report: Dorchester Town 4 – 1 Basingstoke Town – Saturday 11th November 2023

Southern League Premier South Division – Saturday 11th November 2023
Dorchester Town 4 v 1 Basingstoke Town Attendance 483
Where: The Avenue Stadium, Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester. DT1 2RY
Dan Brownlie’s line-up saw a number of enforced changes and went with a line-up of : 1. Paul Strudley, 2. Kai Hobbs, 3. Markus Johnson-Schuster, 4. Michael Atkinson (Capt), 5. Nathan Smart, 6. Reggie Evans, 7. Bradley Wilson, 8. D’Andre Brown, 9. Liam Ferdinand, 10. Joshua Squires, 11. Dan Rowe,
On the bench: Aleksander Kokoska, Paul Hodges, Noah Chengun, Jake Impiazzi & Josh De Lacey-Turner
Referee – Ollie Taylor

This Armistice Day game got underway with Basingstoke’s injury-hit squad, having to make a number of changes, as we attack the covered terraced end in the first-half.

It’s Dorchester who attack and put pressure around our penalty area but Stoke initially clear, but the Magpies continue to press and win a corner, as a shot is blocked away.
Then in the seventh minute another cross from the right is blocked but falls to another Dorchester player, who puts it into the net and we go behind. Dorchester 1-0 Basingstoke

Stoke are still struggling to get a foothold in the game, as Dorchester continue to attack us, but good defensive work holds them out.

Our first attack of note is in the thirteenth minute as a four passing move, allows loanee Joshua Squires to hit a right-foot shot, that is deflected out for a corner. Nothing comes from the corner, and Dorchester break, but their attack is cut short for an offside call.

Dorchester break again down the right, but their cross is well-blocked by Kai Hobbs and we clear, only for them to attack down the left, and their winger hits a shot from just outside the area, and finds the far corner of the net, and we trail by two. Dorchester 2-0 Basingstoke

We still seem to being giving Dorchester too much space on the wings as further crosses are blocked or saved by Paul Strudley in goal.
Then just before the half-hour mark, a Dorchester forward misses a clear chance as he drags his shot wide from close range.

Stoke then a little bit of possession around Dorchester’s penalty area, but Ferdinand’s neat touch and turn, then shot is blocked. We then win a corner on the right, which is headed away to Hobbs whose header flies over the bar.

Dorchester push forward again, but tackles by Michael Atkinson and Nathan Smart, put an end to them.
We are still struggling to maintain any possession in the opposition’s half as we enter the last five minutes of the first-half.
Dorchester win another corner down the left, which results in a Dorchester forward heading wide at the far post.
The referee plays just one minute of added-time before blowing for halftime.

Halftime Score: Dorchester Town 2 v 0 Basingstoke Town
With no changes by Stoke at halftime, the game gets back underway, and we have some initial play in Dorchester’s half after good work from Markus Johnson-Schuster works his way down the wing, and we earn a free-kick, which is cleared comfortably and Dorchester break, but we stop that attack, only for them to break again, and a cross to the far right-hand post is headed back across from a Dorchester forward to another at the left-hand post, who is wide open and heads home. Dorchester 3-0 Basingstoke

We then make our first two substitutions as our two loanees Reggie Evans & Joshua Squires are replaced by Paul Hodges & Jake Impiazzi (54 mins)

D’Andre Brown makes a nice run down the right, but his cross can only find a Dorchester player who clears.
Hobbs then makes a nice tackle and breaks into their half, and finds D’Andre Brown, but he’s outmuscled by two Dorchester defenders.

We then make our third change with Dan Rowe being replaced by Aleksander Kokoska (67 mins)
Stoke have some possession in Dorchester’s half, but are unable to get a shot on goal.

Dorchester attack again, but their forward drags his shot wide.

We have more play in their half, but two crosses are comfortably defended.

Dorchester then add their fourth.
Dorchester then look to add another, but a last-ditch tackle puts it out for a corner.

Stoke have another attack, and the keeper is forced into a save.
Stoke continue to press forward but two further crosses are dealt with by Dorchester’s back four.

Then Bradley Wilson has the ball just outside their box, and skilfully beats three Dorchester defenders and sends a cross along the face of the goal, with Hobbs just unable to get a touch.
Now in added we break into their half and a neat passing move allows Ferdinand space in their box, and he puts it away, as he slots it into the right-hand corner of the net. GOAL! Dorchester Town 4 – 1 Basingstoke Town (Ferdinand 92 mins)

The referee plays a further minutes then blows the final whistle.
Full-time Score: Dorchester Town 4 v 1 Basingstoke Town
Dickson 8 mins, Haste 18 mins,                  Ferdinand 92 mins
Gwengwe 52 & 77 mins

Match Thought’s
It was always going to be a tough ask, with so many changes, but we allowed their wingers too much space in the first half, which Dorchester took full advantage of. Second-half was a better performance and Ferdinand finds the net again. Good to see Paul Hodges back on the pitch and we will need him going forwards.
Up Next:
We return to Winklebury this Tuesday evening as we host Horndean in the Hampshire Snr Cup.

Match Report by Martin French..