Match Report: Staines Town 0-3 Basingstoke Town Sat 20th Oct 2018

Evo-Stick Premier League Division South – Saturday 20th October 2018

Wheatsheaf Park, Staines

Staines Town 0 – 3 Basingstoke Town Attendance 202

As I stated in my match preview, on paper we should win this match and for once we continued that thought out on the grass at Wheatsheaf Park today, as we run out comfortable and deserved winners.

Both pre-game injury concerns Callum Bunting and Dan Collier were named on the bench as Jason Bristow’s starting line-up today was in goal: Colm McAdden, at the back Dean Stow, Shane Hollamby, Dan Bayliss & George Bennett. The midfield contained Charlie Kennedy (Capt), Jack McKnight, Sam Deadfield & Sam Smart, with Sam Argent & Ben Wright leading the attack today.

On the bench; Akers, Philby, Orvis, Collier & Bunting.

The game got underway under a lovely warm sunny sky, with Stoke winning the first free-kick of the game on 2 mins, but the kick is too strong for everyone and goes out for a goal-kick.

Basingstoke are still the team on the front-foot, but neither team has been able to create any real chance of goal with 10 mins on the clock.

Stoke continue to press and win a corner on 16 mins. The corner is met by Charlie Kennedy who heads the ball towards the goal and Sam Argent gets a touch on it and diverts into the net. GOAL Staines Town 0 – 1 Basingstoke Town.

Stoke are back on the attack and Sam Deadfield could have made it two on 21 mins , but the keeper makes a fine save.

Although it’s not a dirty game, the ref has just booked the second Staines player, who brings down McKnight.

Stoke create the next chance as a nice move from Stow, to McKnight who feeds Smart, whose cross beats the first defender but before Argent can get a touch on it, a Swans defender knocks it out for a corner. Nothing results from the corner and the ball is cleared to midfield

Then on 28 mins, Ben Wright forces another good save from the keeper, as Stoke continue to press for that second goal.

On the half-hour Staines have their first real chance, as they break deep into half of the pitch. The Staines forward however when he turns to shoot, he scuffs his shot and it is an easy save for McAdden down low.

Then on 34 mins a long ball over the top, there is confusion in our defence and the attacking forward is brought down by McAdden and the referee points to the penalty spot. As usual I don’t watch penalties.

It is clear from the shout of the Btg next to me that our super shot-stopper Colm McAdden has saved the penalty and Stoke continue to lead.

Then on 38 mins, we seem to want to pass the ball inside the 6yd box and no one wants to shoot, as Smart fed McKnight who slips it to Deadfield. Even Wright then gets involved before I believe Kennedy finally decides to shoot and the ball flies a couple of yards over the bar.

On 41 mins we create another half-chance, but Wright’s shot is mis-hit and is dragged 2yds wide.

On 43 mins from another McKnight-Smart move down the right, the cross by Smart finds Deadfield whose header is well-saved by the keeper.

There is no more goal-mouth incident and the referee blow’s the half-time whistle with Stoke leading 1-0.

The second-half gets underway, with no changes by Basingstoke, and we are first on the ball, as McKnight goes on a run from just inside their half, he goes past 3 Staines players as he takes the ball across the pitch and feeds the ball to another Stoke player. McKnight, has continued his run and wants the ball back, the Stoke player slips him the ball, and McKnight takes two touches and hits one from about 30yds and it curls it into the back of the net. GOAL Staines Town 0 – 2 Basingstoke Town

We are back on the attack again on 52 mins with Smart & Stow, as their one-two leads to a Stow cross from the by-line, but it’s knocked out for a corner by a Staines defender. The corner is well cleared.

Then on 54 mins we strike again with good work from Stoke, as Deadfield feeds Argent on the edge of the box. Argent, then does a one-two with Wright, whose pass allows Argent to enter the penalty area and smash it past the Staines keeper and into the back of the net. GOAL Staines Town 0 – 3 Basingstoke Town

At this point we are well deserving of this three goal lead and it seems we want more as we go on the attack again down the right and I think Smart gets bundled over and another Staines player goes in the book.

The free-kick is headed clear.

On 62 mins we make our first change with double-strike forwards Sam Argent (who had been ill all-week), be replaced by Callum Bunting. Literally within 20 seconds of Bunting being on the field, he has the ball and goes past one Staines defender and then feeds it out to Smart on the right. Smart then takes the ball down the wing and sends in another low cross, which is hacked away for a corner. Nothing comes from corner.

Staines on 68 mins break, but a well-timed tackle by Hollamby prevents Staines from getting a shot on goal.

We are still dominating possession, and we make our second substitution on 75 mins as Sam Smart makes way for Dan Collier.

Stoke are now comfortably passing the ball around the park and win back-to-back corners on 77 & 78 mins. Neither create an effort on goal.

Staines then create one more half-chance as they break but today is one day your not going to beat Colm, as he makes another fine save.

On 81 mins, Stoke make their final change, as Bunting is replaced by Akers. I’m hoping Bunting hasn’t re-injured his back, as he was only on the pitch for about 20 mins.

The next five minutes or so we are able to pass the ball about as the fight in Staines seems to have gone, and Akers is able to keep possession down the left, before slipping it to Bennett who feeds Collier in midfield who slips it to Deadfield, who takes a long shot, but it’s blocked and the ball is given back to Akers, who gets brought down by a frustrated Staines defender.

We now move into injury-time as we just play the game out and the referee, who has had a good game today blows the final whistle.

Final Score: Staines Town 0 – 3 Basingstoke Town

Final Thought’s – It was a really good strong all-round team performance today.

McKnight now has five goals in five games and his overall match performance still seem to improve and his confidence must be sky-high at the moment.

Colm McAdden had another solid game (apart from getting booked for the penalty), and the Btg appreciate his recent performances.

Smart, had a good game yesterday and I hope he can turn another good performance next week in the FA Trophy against Wimborne.

Finally, an apology to Tom Moore, because I was going to add something he stated in the first-half, but my phone didn’t record what he said and my memory in my old age is getting worse.

Match Report by Martin French..