Match Report: Sutton Common Rovers 0 – 5 Basingstoke Town Saturday 21st January 2023

Isthmian South Central Division – Saturday 21st January 2023
Sutton Common Rovers 0 v 5 Basingstoke Town Attendance 135
Where: Whyteleafe Sports Centre, Church Road, Whyteleafe, Caterham, CR3 0AR
Stoke Top The Table As They Thump Sutton Common Rovers
Dan Brownlie’s line-up for today: 1. Paul Strudley, 2.Ben Mason, 3. Callum Winchcombe, 4. Michael Atkinson, 5. Nathan Smart, 6. Scott Armsworth, 7. Bradley Wilson, 8. Simon Dunn (Capt), 14. Marcio Neves, 19. Sam Argent, 11. George Reid
On the bench: Ben Cook, D’Andre Brown, Mark Scott, Markus Johnson-Schuster Scott & Billy Upton
Referee – TBC

With just one other game in our league beating the weather, our game got underway, knowing that a win would put us top of the table, and it takes just five minutes to take the lead, as the ball is slid to Bradley Wilson just outside the penalty area directly in front of the goal, and he takes one touch, then drills the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. GOAL ! Sutton Common Rovers 0 – 1 Basingstoke Town (Bradley Wilson 5 mins)

Stoke continue to push forward over the next few minutes, but shots fly wide of the goal from George Reid & Sam Argent.

Rovers have offered very little in attack, as Stoke are looking to add to their lead as we attack down both wings as we hit the half-hour point in the game.

Sam Argent then hits the top of the crossbar with a header from a corner, that flies out for a goal-kick.
Stoke then double their lead on 38 minutes, as a cross from the right wing, is fumbled by the keeper straight to Sam Argent, who knocks the ball home from close range. GOAL !! Sutton Common Rovers 0 – 2 Basingstoke Town (Sam Argent 38 mins)

Stoke continue to push forward in the final few minutes, but are unable to extend their lead as we play one minute of added-time, before the referee blows for halftime.

Halftime – Sutton Common Rovers 0 v 2 Basingstoke Town
The second-half gets underway, with no changes in the Stoke line-up, and Stoke continue to be the team controlling the game, but have put little to note on the Sutton goal as we hit the hour mark.
We then make our first change as Marcio Neves is replaced by Ben Cook (63 mins).

Sutton have done little to get back into the game, which includes the odd shot that have not troubled Paul Strudley in goal.

A Stoke corner sees a Scott Armsworth header fly just over the bar.
Stoke continue to come forward and win back-to-back corners, and from the second corner, the ball rebounds to Nathan Smart, who slams a left-foot shot in the bottom right-hand corner of the net. GOAL !!! Sutton Common Rovers 0 – 3 Basingstoke Town (Nathan Smart 73 mins)

A rare goal by Stoke legend Smart, has the away support behind the goal in full song, and we are back on the attack and a neat passing movement finds Wilson at the far post who makes no mistake as thunders the ball past the keeper into the net GOAL !!!! Sutton Common Rovers 0 – 4 Basingstoke Town (Bradley Wilson 75 mins)

We then make our final two substitutions with Markus Johnson-Schuster replacing Sam Argent, then a minute later D’Andre Brown replaces Simon Dunn.
Stoke are looking for more as we push forward and we find the fifth goal, as from the left-hand touchline, some neat passing finds D’Andre Brown on the edge of the penalty are, who smashes the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the net. GOAL !!!!! Sutton Common Rovers 0 – 5 Basingstoke Town (D’Andre Brown 83 mins).

The homeside already on a ten-game losing streak, have done very little to change that, as we move past ninety minutes, and the referee plays three minutes of added-time before blowing the final whistle and

Final Score: Sutton Common Rovers 0 v 5 Basingstoke Town
                                                                  Wilson 5 & 75 mins, Argent 38 mins, Smart 73 mins, D. Brown 83 mins

Match Thought’s
A dominating Stoke performance, which was rounded off by some fine finishing today. Bradley Wilson continues to find the net, with two more goals, plus an important goal by Sam Argent just before the break, looked more than enough. Icing on the cake with goals by Smarty & Dre.
Top of the league, we can’t ask for more than that.

Up Next:
On Wednesday we travel to Ashford Town’s Robert Parker stadium to play Southall in the rearranged game from last year. Kick-0ff 7.45pm.

Match Report by Martin French..