Southern League Premier South – Saturday 26th October 2024
Swindon Supermarine 2 v 2 Basingstoke Town Attendance 279
Where: Webbswood Stadium, Supermarine Road, Swindon, SN3 4BZ
Manager Dan Brownlie’s line-up for this rearranged fixture was: 1. Simon Grant, 2. James Clark, 3. Aleks Kokoszka, 4. Rudy Allen, 5. Jack Ball, 6. Billy Upton (Capt), 7. Max Smith, 8. D’Andre Brown, 9. Nnamdi Nwachuku, 10. Liam Ferdinand, 11. Dan Warre
On the bench: 12. Josh Grant, 14. Simon Dunn, 15. Flynn Bolton, 16. Jonny Efedje & 17. Curtis Angell
Referee – Adam Wilson
With a good Basingstoke contingent of fans, the game saw us attacking the car-park end and the linesman halted two good moves in the first few minutes. Minutes later a long through ball was met by Liam Ferdinand’s head, and the ball flew wide of the left-hand goal, but once again the offside flag halted the game.
Swindon’s first real attack, saw them find the back of the net, but again the linesman had flagged for offside and the game stayed goal-less as we hit twenty minutes.
However on twenty-five minutes, there’s a mix-up at the back, and a Swindon forward rounds our keeper and finds the back of the net. Swindon Supermarine 1-0 Basingstoke
Despite Stoke continuing to be the team on top, we failed to put their keeper under any real pressure, and another Supermarine break, saw them open us up at the back, and they doubled their lead. Swindon Supermarine 2-0 Basingstoke
The linesman on both sides, continued to be very active, as each of them flagged as Stoke through Ferdinand and then a Swindon counter-attack saw both goals ruled out for offside.
Stoke on the stroke of halftime, did then get back into the game, as another corner, this time on the right, flicked off a Marine head, straight to Billy Upton, alone just past the far post, who chested it down then volleyed his shot back across into the far corner of the net. GOAL! Swindon Supermarine 2 – 1 Basingstoke Town (Upton 45 mins)
The referee played two further minutes before blowing the halftime whistle.
Halftime Score: Swindon Supermarine 2 v 1 Basingstoke Town
The second-half got underway and within a minute we won a penalty as Nwachuku got hauled down. Ferdinand’s penalty take was poor, which the keeper parried back to him, only for his second shot to hit the keeper once again.
Two minutes later Stoke won a corner, which resulted in the keeper making a low-down save from Jack Ball’s header, that rebounded to James Clark, but his shot flew off the bottom of the right-hand post and away.
Grant then kept us in the game as he made a superb low-down save from the Swindon break.
Stoke then made it’s first change with Jonny Efedje replacing Dan Warre (58 mins).
Swindon then nearly increased their lead, but their shot flew off the post and away.
More possession by Stoke, but no-one wanted to pull the trigger.
Stoke made it’s second change with twenty minutes to go as Max Smith was replaced by Flynn Bolton (70 mins).
Efedje had brought some life into the game and it was he that created the equaliser, as he slid the ball to Ferdinand, who smashed it through a crowd of players into the net GOAL!! Swindon Supermarine 2 – 2 Basingstoke Town (Ferdinand 80 mins)
The referee then refused to award Stoke a penalty after a Swindon player fell on the ball and despite handling it, he gave a free-kick to the homeside.
Stoke continued to press, and time was running out, and from a Swindon attack, Efedje was sent through, but the Swindon keeper, got a hand to it pushing it wide of the left-hand post.
Stoke continued to look for the winner in added-time, but again failed to pressure the keeper and the referee called a halt to the game, and both teams have to settle for a point.
Full-time Score: Swindon Supermarine 2 v 2 Basingstoke Town
Williams 25 mins, Vine 39 mins Upton 45 mins, Ferdinand 80 mins
Match Thought’s
Another come from behind draw, in what was an entertaining game for the neutral. Billy Upton once again ignited the fightback, with a finish worthy of any centre-forward. Jonny Efedje provided more energy on the pitch, when he arrived and his determination and skill found Liam Ferdinand who grabbed his chance for the equaliser.
Our midfield despite lots of possession, lacked someone to pull the trigger in front of goal, but with few games in our league, the point pushes us back into fifth place.
Up Next:
We have a week before our next game which is back on the road at a new club to this league in Gloucester City next Saturday 2nd November KO 3pm
Match Report by Martin French..
Not bad a game, but we need to win games like this.