Match Report: Met Police 4 – Basingstoke Town Sat 13th October 2018

Evo-Stick Premier League Division South – Saturday 13th October 2018
Imber Court Sports Club
Met Police 4 – 4 Basingstoke Town Attendance 195

Well as I stated in my match preview if you score a lot of goals then you are more than likely to ship a lot of goals as well. Today for both Met Police and Basingstoke town, that was true.

Following rumours that Jason would change the formation, he had to deal with the fact that both Callum Bunting & Dan Collier would be absent from the playing squad today.
However, I think most people were more than a touch surprised when the line-up was announced, as we move from two wingers to zero wingers.

The line-up was. In goal McAdden, at the back Stow, Hollamby, Bayliss & Orvis. The midfield containing McKnight, Bennett, Deadfield & the returning Charlie Kennedy. Up-front today was Argent & Wright.
On the bench; Akers, Philby & Smart

With yet another good contingent of Basingstoke fans making the shorter trip upto South-West London today, the game got underway with a very strong swirling wind across the pitch, which would no doubt affect the game today.

Nothing of note for the first five minutes until Met Police following a mistake in midfield allow them to break, a cross from the right wing over to the far post is met by an Old Bill forward who fires high and wide over the bar.

It is at this point that I notice a secondary whistle is being blown from the pitch adjacent to the first-team pitch. This is highly confusing not just for the fans, but must be for both sets of players.

13 mins in and Met Police have the ball in the net, but the linesman has his flag up for offside, and yet more confusion as multiple whistles are being blown at the same time.

Then on 16 mins we take the lead against the run of play, when a cross from the left to McKnight, whose shot is half-blocked falls to Argent, who turns and hooks the ball into the net past the oncoming keeper. GOAL Met Police 0 – 1 Basingstoke Town.

We seem to be able to hold onto the ball for the next few minutes, as the wind picks up again, but Met Police score goals for a reason, they have a strike partnership that take their chances, as Max Blackmore equalizes on 22 mins.

Stoke are back on the attack and on 28 mins Deadfield feeds the ball to a wide open Bennett 20yds out, who then smashes his shot 5yds over the bar. That really should have been better from the pool playing midfielder.

Met Police are the next to create a chance on 31mins as they break down our left, but a fine block from Hollamby puts the ball out for a corner to the home side. The corner is well defended.

On 32 mins we break and win a corner after a cross from Bennett flies over the far post and is touched out for a corner. Our corner is easily cleared.

On 35 mins we attack with McKnight putting a decent swinging cross into the 6yd box, but a fine catch by the Met Police keeper who throws the ball out quickly and they break down our end and win a corner. Yet more indiscernible whistle are ruining this game, but this does not stop the home team from taking the lead as they pump the ball back into our box, McAdden is frozen on the spot as Blackmore’s strike partner Jack Mazzone gets his first of the afternoon and we are losing 2 -1.

A half-time whistle has been blown but it’s from the other pitch.

From a Met Police corner, Hollamby takes a knock to the head and the game is stopped for 2 minutes whilst he receives treatment.

Then on 44 mins Met Police break again another cross, no challenge from a defender nothing from McAdden and Met Police score again, and we are now 3 -1 down.
We then on 45 mins have got one back as McKnight slams it home GOAL Met Police 3 – 2 Basingstoke Town.

The ref blows for half-time.
The second-half is underway and we are first on the attack, with a shot from Argent that flies wide.

Then on 50 mins we seem to win a soft penalty as Bennett goes on a run into the Old Bill box, he seems to be fouled and goes down. The ref immediately points to the spot.

I am reliably informed Dean Stow slams it home. GOAL Met Police 3 – 3 Basingstoke Town.

Literally from the re-start we win the ball, McKnight surges into the Met Police half goes past two defenders and then slide the ball into the 6yd area, where Wright is first to the ball and he side-foots it into the net. GOAL Met Police 3 – 4 Basingstoke Town.

Somehow we have turned this match on it’s head and are in front.

But knowing our Stoke have defended this season, we seem to be under pressure again, as they attack down the right, a cross beats the first two defenders and finds a Met Police player who hits it straight at Bayliss and it spins past the post for a corner. The corner leaves McAdden rooted to the line again and somehow they can’t find the net.

Then on 61 mins there is no escape this time, as we succumb to yet another soft goal as the ball is put in the box, no challenge again, and it’s 4 -4 and Mazzone has his 2nd goal of the game.

Sorry, I seemed to have missed who was replaced by Smart, but Smart is on the attack down the left and puts in a nice cross, but it’s well held by the keeper.
The game still affected by the wind continues, as both teams have efforts that swirl wide of the post.

On 74 mins there’s a half-chance for Argent, but his shot is blocked. Smart then a minute later is ploughing forward down the right, but he fails to produce anything as he is well closed down by the left back.

80 mins in and they should have the lead as mistimed tackle allows them to break from the half-way line he slips the ball to Blackmore, but he fluffs the chance and hits it wide.

On 84 mins Akers replaces Argent.

The next few minutes, there is no attack of note, as the board goes up for 3 minutes added time.

We seem to be the team on the attack and Akers crosses to Wright who has a looping header over the keeper that hits the top of the crossbar, and goes out for a goal-kick, as the ref blows the final whistle.

Final Score: Met Police 4 – 4 Basingstoke Town

Final Thought’s – It was good to see Kennedy back on the pitch and last 90 mins.

Not sure going from starting last week with 2 wingers, to no wingers this week is the right way, as although Argent had more support, we had no width in the first half especially.

A point at Met Police is something I would have taken from the start.

Match Report by Martin French..