Southern League Premier South Division – Tuesday 26th September 2023
Winchester City 2 v 1 Basingstoke Town Attendance 427
Where: Hillier Way, Winchester SO23 7SR
Dan’s midweek line-up was: 1. Paul Strudley, 2. Markus Johnson-Schuster, 3. Callum Winchcombe, 4. Michael Atkinson (Capt), 5. Scott Armsworth, 6. Billy Upton, 7. Bradley Wilson, 8. Luis Le Paih, 9. Dan Rowe, 10. Ben Cook, 11, Paul Hodges,
On the bench: D’Andre Brown, James Clark, Morrison Hashii, Sam Argent & Mark Scott
Referee – Adrian Harris
Tonight’s game got underway with Stoke defending the clubhouse end, and after an initial attack from Stoke, the homeside start to put pressure on our goal, winning three corners in the next few minutes, which we are able to clear.
Then in the twelfth minute, City’s No.7, is fed in behind and our back four, and slides the ball across the goal where a City striker sends it wide of the far post.
It’s still Winchester coming forward and they seem a yard quicker than us to the ball.
Their good play then brings the opening goal, as their winger outpaces our defence and sends the ball across the six-yard box, where their centre-forward is first to it and knocks it home. Winchester 1-0 Basingstoke
It’s still the homeside who pushing forward and they have further attacks over the next few minutes which we are able to block away.
We seem unable to clear the ball, and another attack, has a City player smashing the ball against the right-hand post and out for a goal-kick.
We move past the half-hour, and it’s still pretty much the homeside looking likely to score the next goal, but good defensive work from Billy Upton and then Callum Winchcombe who get in the way of clear chances for the homeside.
Stoke’s first real effort comes when from a corner on the left as, Upton’s header flies wide of the goal, and seems to have taken a knock at the same time. He’s up and he will back on the pitch shortly.
Stoke are still trying to get in the game, but are now pushing more into Winchester’s half of the pitch. This includes neat work from Paul Hodges, as he takes the ball inside their box, but is unable to find space too shoot, and as we pass the ball around, Wilson is given offside.
Winchester win back-to-back corners which we clear, but Winchester hold us in our final third of the pitch, as we move into the final two minutes of the half.
Stoke now have a bit of possession around City’s box, and the ball is fed to Wilson who sends a neat cross over where Dan Rowe is first to it and his glancing header finds the bottom far corner of the net. GOAL! Winchester City 1 – 1 Basingstoke Town (Rowe 46 mins)
From the restart, I say to the couple of fans next to me, that we need to hold them to halftime, but this appears to no avail, as three minutes into added-time, City’s No.7 is the architect to another attack which he slides over and a Winchester forward is first to it and he knocks it home through a crowd of players. Winchester 2-1 Basingstoke
Stoke then win a corner in the sixth added-minute, and the ball is slid, to Hodges whose curling shot slides, just wide of the goal.
The referee finally blows for halftime.
Halftime Score: Winchester City 2 v 1 Basingstoke Town
The second-half gets underway, with no changes by Stoke and we are first to attack, which ends when their keeper goes down with the first of a few injuries.
Wilson then goes on a run and clips the ball over, but it’s over Rowe, who has to retrieve the ball and wins the corner. The corner sees Upton head the ball back across the goal, but it is comfortably held by their keeper.
This attack seems to wake the homeside up as they push forward and have the next five minutes with us having to defend three long-throws which we have to defend in our own six-yard box.
Another Winchester attack has Strudley at full stretch making the save, as we close in on the hour mark.
We then make a double substitution, with Ben Cook replaced by James Clark and Luis Le Paih replaced by D’Andre Brown.
The next few minutes has the homeside pushing forward again, and we then break down the right, and the ball bounces to Rowe, who volleys a shot from forty-yards that is heading for the goal, until their keeper palms the ball onto the top of the crossbar and over for a corner. The corner is however wasted.
Winchester attack again through their No.7,who seems unstoppable and he wins a free-kick just outside the box. We are able to initially clear but the ball is back in our penalty area, and a Winchester forward somehow misses from two yards out as he hits the post.
Stoke are trying to get any passing moves in City’s half as we head into the last fifteen minutes, and we make our third change with Morrison Hashii replacing Paul Hodges.
Winchester are still the team on top, but two shots go wide and then high over the bar.
We are now in added-time and we don’t really look like we are going to get back into the game and after five added minutes, the referee blows the final whistle.
Full-time Score: Winchester City 2 v 1 Basingstoke Town
Mlambo 17 mins, Wright 48 mins Rowe 44 mins
Match Thought’s
Well our six-game unbeaten run went last night, and the 2-1 scoreline, did not honestly truly confirm our opponents superiority throughout the match. Clearly the homeside were use to and designed their attacks using the spongy pitch.
A few of our players were not at their best last night, and some last ditch tackling and blocks kept the scoreline low.
We never really seemed to get going and struggled to create enough inside the opponents penalty area. Dan Rowe, did score another goal, and if not for that excellent save by City’s keeper would have had a brace.
Will be interesting to see whose available for Saturday’s game, as we remain in sixth spot in the league.
Up Next:
We remain on the road as we head out this Saturday to face an improving Hendon side who sit in eleventh place, five places below us.
Match Report by Martin French..
English 
Polish 
We appeared second best in all areas of the field. Missed Artwell and Reid and need them back saturday.