Match Report: Hanwell Town 1 – 2 Basingstoke Town – Tuesday 15th October 2024

Southern League Premier South Division – Tuesday 15th October 2024
Hanwell Town 1 v 2 Basingstoke Town Attendance 251
Where: The Powerday Stadium, Perivale Lane, Greenford UB6 8TL
Manager Dan Brownlie’s line-up for this midweek fixture was: 1. Curtis Angell, 2. Markus Johnson-Schuster, 3. Simon Dunn, 4. Rudy Allen, 5. Jack Ball, 6. Billy Upton (Capt), 7. Brody Peart, 8. Ben Cook, 9. Liam Ferdinand, 10. D’Andre Brown, 11. George Reid
On the bench: Nnamdi Nwachuku, Max Smith, Simon Grant, Dan Warre & James Clark
Referee – Thomas Berry
With a number of late changes to Basingstoke’s line-up, and a delayed kick-off the game got underway, with Stoke attacking the car-park end, and it was Stoke who pushed forward over the first ten minutes through George Reid, Ben Cook & Brody Peart, but we’re unable to put anything of note on the Hanwell keeper.

Then in the eighteenth minute, we make that much awaited change with Simon Dunn being replaced as Simon Grant dons the goalkeeper’s jersey, and Curtis Angell returning to his left-back role.

Apart from the odd attack from the homeside, it’s still Stoke with the majority of the possession, but apart from a long-range shot from Liam Ferdinand, the possession has not resulted in a goal.
On twenty-five minutes there’s a clear penalty waived away by the referee, as Reid gets clipped by his defender as he bursts into the penalty area.

A goal had to come and it arrived through an error by Hanwell, as a wayward pass across the backline, is picked-up by Reid who raced to the edge of the box, and let fly a shot that the keeper could only parry from a full-length dive, and Ferdinand was there to pick up the pieces and tap it home from four yards out GOAL! Hanwell Town 0 – 1 Basingstoke Town (Ferdinand 30 mins)

The much expected rain has started to fall and a few fans sought the necessary shelter, as Hanwell created a few minutes of pressure on the Stoke goal. The flow of the game was affected by a number of injuries, which resulted in the referee allowing eight minutes of added-time, before we went into the break with Stoke deservedly ahead.

Halftime Score: Hanwell Town 0 v 1 Basingstoke Town
With the rain continuing to fall, the second-half got underway and it was an all-out attack by Stoke, as Ferdinand found Reid, but his shot from twenty-yards flew over the bar.
D’Andre then set-up the next chance but Reid’s shot was pushed out for a corner.
Ferdinand broke clear a minute later but his shot hit the keeper and flew over the bar.
Another chance a minute later as this time good work by Peart, but his shot slid wide of the far right-hand post.
The second goal had to come and it did via Ferdinand who was sent clear, and he took two touches before sliding the ball past the oncoming keeper GOAL!! Hanwell Town 0 – 2 Basingstoke Town (Ferdinand 56 mins)

The lead was however only to last five minutes as ex-Stokie Jordan Edward’s shot found the back of the net despite Grant’s strong hand. Hanwell 1-2 Basingstoke

Stoke then made it’s second-change with George Reid being replaced by James Clark (63 mins).
The goal rejuvenated Hanwell and a cross from the left flashed across the face of the goal minutes later.

Our third change was Nnamdi Nwachuku replacing Brody Peart (71 mins).
The game could have been level, but a great save by Grant rebounded off the Hanwell striker over the bar.

Stoke then broke through Ferdinand, who found Nwachuku, but with the fans calling for him to shoot, he turned back inside and lost the ball (80 mins).

Hanwell continued to press for the equaliser, but the effort by the whole Stoke side kept them at bay, as we made our fourth change as Liam Ferdinand got a warm round of applause from the Stoke faithful, as he is replaced by Dan Warre (94 mins).

The referee initially indicated six added-minutes, but despite a late shout for a Hanwell penalty, the wait was finally over after eight minutes, as the referee blew the final whistle on a fighting effort by the Stoke side and a deserved three points.

Full-time Score: Hanwell Town 1 v 2 Basingstoke Town
Edwards 61 mins                                  Ferdinand 30 & 56 mins

Match Thought’s
Despite the poor weather conditions, this was a completely different performance from Saturday and the whole Stoke team, starting with Ferdinand’s whole game effort and two goals. Another strong performance by George Reid, Ben Cook’s best game of the season, a much better performance by Brody Peart, and the Stoke backline defending well especially in the last thirty minutes of the game.
Basingstoke move upto fourth in the table.
Up Next:
We return to Winklebury this Saturday as we host Taunton Town this Saturday (20th) and a 3pm KO

Match Report by martin French..