Southern League Premier South – Saturday 17th December 2024
Winchester City 2 v 4 Basingstoke Town Attendance 485
Where: Charters Community Stadium, Hillier Way, Winchester, Hampshire. SO23 7SR
Manager Dan Brownlie’s last line-up before Christmas was: 1. Simon Grant, 2. Markus Johnson-Schuster, 3. James Clark, 4. Rudy Allen, 5. Jack Ball, 6. Billy Upton (Capt), 7. Brody Peart, 8. D’Andre Brown, 9. Liam Ferdinand, 10. Robbie Gallagher, 11. George Reid
On the bench: Nnamdi Nwachuku, Sam Deadfield, Luis le Paih, Dan Warre & Ben Cook
Referee – Paul Barber
Tonight’s game got underway with Stoke attacking the clubhouse end, and we won a free-kick on the left-hand touchline, which Brody Peart took and swung the ball in missing three defenders and their keeper into the far corner of the net. GOAL! Winchester City 0 – 1 Basingstoke Town (Peart 3 mins)
It was Stoke who had the next attack, on eight minutes as Peart sent a crossfield pass to Robbie Gallagher on the left, who sent over a cross that Peart was able to retrieve on the right, and he sent a cross that Liam Ferdinand met, heading the ball past the motionless Winchester keeper, but bounced off the far post and away.
Winchester’s first attack came in the twelfth minute, but the final shot was dragged wide of the left-hand post and out for a goal-kick.
It was Peart again who created the next attack as he found Gallagher once more, but Gallagher’s shot was easily held by the Winchester keeper.
Then the game was to change on eighteen minutes, as George Reid misplaced a pass then tried to retrieve the ball but his heavy tackle, saw him receive a second yellow card, followed by the red and Stoke were down to ten men.
Stoke won a corner which Peart took and sent over a swinging corner, that the Winchester keeper called only push away with this hands for another corner.
Stoke looked to push forward, but Winchester started looking more dangerous, but without really troubling Simon Grant in goal.
The game was then halted for two minutes, whilst a Winchester forward received treatment, which ultimately saw him replaced.
Peart’s determination created the next attack, as he forced his way through two Winchester defenders and sent in a curling left-foot shot, that the Winchester keeper tipped over the bar. Stoke doubled their lead from Peart’s corner, which was met by James Clark’s powerful header which flew into the far corner of the net. GOAL!! Winchester City 0 – 2 Basingstoke Town (Clark 34 mins)
Winchester then pulled a goal back after they were awarded a penalty, which was put away. Winchester 1-2 Basingstoke.
Winchester pushed for the equaliser, but another shot was dragged wide.
It was no surprise when it was confirmed that there would be five minutes of added-time, which was action-packed, as Winchester pulled another shot wide of the left-hand post.
Gallagher was involved in the next attack two attacks, as firstly he went down in the penalty area, which were waived away, then a minute later Ferdinan neatly set him up, and his shot was palmed away by the Winchester keeper.
But with calls from the Stoke fans behind the goal, for the referee to blow for halftime, Stoke broke clear through Rudy Allen, who expertly chipped two defenders to find Ferdinand through, but despite possibly taking a touch too much, slid the ball past the Winchester keeper into an open net. GOAL!!! Winchester City 1 – 3 Basingstoke Town (Ferdinand 45 + 6 mins)
Thirty seconds after the restart, the referee blew for halftime, and a first-half performance by ten-man Stoke not seen for some time.
Halftime Score: Winchester City 1 v 3 Basingstoke Town
Stoke were unchanged as the second-half got under, and after another shot dragged wide, Winchester found a second goal, as we failed to clear our lines. Winchester 2-3 Basingstoke
Winchester continued to push, but they didn’t have their shooting boots on, as two balls fly out the ground.
Gallagher then does what he does best, as he battled for a ball against his defender, turns him, then sent a ball across the goal, which Ferdinand finds Peart, whose shot although on target, just allows the City keeper to get a fingertip to it and push it out.
Then thirty seconds of play, changed the state of the game, as a Winchester shot beat Grant but rebounded of the post and we attacked from the rebound, as D’Andre Brown found Ferdinand, who then slid it back to Brown, but as he closed in on the penalty area, he is knocked down, and after a minute of consultation with the linesman, the referee gave the Winchester No.9 a straight red card (65 mins). The free-kick dummied by Peart allowed Brown to shoot, but his shot flied two feet wide of the post.
Clark then superably intercepted a dangerous pass, stopping the next City attack.
Stoke made their first change with Brody Peart replaced by Ben Cook (71 mins).
With it being ten a side, Stoke were starting to get back more control of the game, and Ferdinand set-up Gallagher, but he looked dead on his feet, and his shot was comfortably held by the City keeper.
Stoke then made their second change with Robbie Gallagher replaced by Nnamdi Nwachuku (79 mins).
Nwachuku was straight into the action linking up well with Markus Johnson-Schuster, and his cross was knocked out for a corner. From the Cook corner-kick, Jack Ball beat his marker, and headed the ball towards the goal, but a Winchester defender on the line dropped down onto his knees and expertly chested the ball down and the ball was hooked clear.
Nwachuku’s entrance to the game, had given us a new option on the wing, as Cook and then Allen found him on the wing, but both attacks ended with defenders blocking the shots.
Stoke made its third change with D’Andre Brown replaced by Sam Deadfield (86 mins).
Clarke made another timely tackle and took the ball over the halfway line before sliding the ball to Ferdinand, who then set Nwachuku free, but his shot was blasted over the bar.
We now entered six minutes of added-time, and Stoke made their fourth change with Liam Ferdinand replaced by Luis Le Paih (92 mins).
Stoke despite all the worries from the Stoke fans, were the team pushing forward, and we secured all three points, as Le Paih found Cook who gave the ball back to Le Paih who took a touch, and as he entered the penalty area he made no mistake, as he beat the City keeper GOAL!!!! Winchester City 1 – 4 Basingstoke Town (Le Paih 90 + 8 mins)
The referee restarted the game and played another minute of time, before blowing the full-time whistle and Stoke going into the Christmas break with back-to-back wins.
Full-time Score: Winchester City 2 v 4 Basingstoke Town
Hill 37 & 55 mins Peart 3 mins, Clark 34 mins,
Ferdinand 45 + 6, Le Paih 90 + 8,
Match Thought’s
Well, well a win against our Hampshire rivals Winchester, and what a strong all-round team performance. It’s difficult to name a man-of-the-match, we saw signs of what Brody Peart can really do, Gallagher& Ferdinand gave their all, whilst Rudy Allen & D’Andre Brown were solid throughout the game. The versatile James Clark did well at a new role (left-back), and the defence played well on the whole.
But let’s be clear Winchester are a poor side, especially in defence, and could be one of those four teams in the relegation zone come April.
Anyway I would like to wish all the Management Staff, Players and Supporters a Happy Christmas, and hope to see you at home to Marlow on Boxing Day.
Match Report by Martin French..
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