Evo Stick South Premier Division South Saturday 15th December 2018
Swindon Supermarine 5 – 2 Basingstoke Town Attendance 193
With the game passing an early morning pitch inspection the hardy Basingstoke fans on their last away game in an assortment of Santa suits and Christmas hats took to the train to support our club with expectations of a performance worthy of it’s fan support and Martin Kuhl’s 4th win in Martin Kuhl’s reign as Manager.
Boy were we in for a shock!!
Yet more injuries this time to our man between the sticks, pushed Martin Kuhl into an unexpected line-up of; In Goal Cameron Kennedy, the back four of Dean Stow, Shane Hollamby, Dan Bayliss & Robert Gerrard. The midfield contained Charlie Kennedy (Captain), Sam Smart, Sam Deadfield & Zidane Akers, with Sam Argent alongside Ben Wright up front.
On the bench; Orvis, Philby, Matthews, Collier and new boy Harry Pearse.
The game got underway under continuous rain with Basingstoke attacking the car park end and we were at it from the start we created an early chance for Argent, whose shot is deflected wide for a corner.
Then on 8 minutes, we break again and after good work, Smart is fed the ball down the right just inside the box on the, his cross finds Akers at the back post, but his shot is poor and the keeper comfortably saves his shot.
But then on 10mins, our initial possession proves successful as we take the lead when the ball is pushed across the goalmouth by Akers and Argent is first to tap it into the net. GOAL Swindon Supermarine 0 – 1 Basingstoke Town
Stoke are back on it again and further good work on 18 mins by Deadfield and Argent fails to produce a shot that puts the keeper under pressure.
The Marine have their first real chance on 19 mins, but our young keeper is out to shut down the attack.
Then on 23 minutes, we break again and after good work, Akers is fed the ball just inside the box on the left, he shimmies inside and has time to shoot, but not unexpectedly his shot flies high and wide over the bar. The groan from the fans behind the goal is not surprised.
Then two more half chances for the home team on 30 and 31 mins. The first a shot from just outside the box by Fleetwood, is deflected a couple of yards wide for a corner, the second from the corner is headed wide of the far post.
Basingstoke are still however looking the better team despite failing to create any more clear chances on goal.
However, I speak too soon as what seems an innocuous shot is unable to be held by Kennedy and Fleetwood is first on it and traps it home. Stoke are pegged back to 1-1.
On 40 & 43 mins Stoke still seem to want the game more as the rain continues to fall, as Smart and then Deadfield have shots that are wide of the goal.
The ref decides he wants his half-time cup of tea and blows the whistle to halt the game.
The game is back underway, and as the fans from both sides depart the clubhouse, I have just time to get to the barrier only to see us concede our 2nd goal. Was that literally 25 seconds into the restart! Stoke are now down 2-1.
Basingstoke are determined to get that goal back and a shot from Smart is well blocked by the Swindon defender.
Then on 51 mins we get that first moment of good fortune in front of goal, as a Dean Stow shot, gets deflected into the net by the defender. It’s an own goal but Stoke are back level. GOAL Swindon Supermarine 2 – 2 Basingstoke Town
Not sure what has happened to my phone as maybe the continuing rain has crashed access to my phone and I can’t take any further notes.
Maybe that is for the best, as we put in a disappointing second 45 mins.
We stay level for what seems 5 mins as the defence thinks that we can’t be bothered to prevent the cross and we trail again 3-2.
This time there is no sign of a leveller, as we are now being pushed back in our own half.
The home side now seem to want it more, and I note mentally that Kennedy makes two reasonable saves in 5 mins and Stuart Fleetwood misses a wide-open goal.
It is all Swindon now and they settle the game with about 15 minutes to go, as their leading goal-scorer Conor McDonagh gets his 2nd of the game.
Within a couple of minutes, the game is truly killed off as we again prevent to cut out the cross and it’s a 5th for the home team.
We have a flurry of possession as the ref allows 3 mins of injury-time, but again can’t put anything on target.
The away fans have clearly had enough, and the ref puts us out of our misery and blows the final whistle.
Final Score: Swindon Supermarine 5 – 2 Basingstoke Town
Final Thought’s – Not sure Martin Kuhl was looking for a second -half performance like that, we seemed to be overrun for large parts of it.
We slip back to 18th in the league and our opponent’s today are above on goal difference now.
It’s back to the drawing-board and not sure we have the chalk to change it.
No stand-out performances by any players and some shockers by some.
We have a week to get it right before the Walton Casuals home game.
Match Report by Martin French..
English 
Polish 