Southern League Premier South – Saturday 15th February 2025
Hungerford Town 2 v 1 Basingstoke Town Attendance 627
Where: Bulpitt Lane, Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 0AY
Manager Dan Brownlie was forced into a number of changes and went with a starting line-up of : 1. Simon Grant, 2. Robbie Gallagher, 3. James Clark, 4. Scott Armsworth, 5. Jack Ball, 6. Billy Upton (Capt), 7. Jayden Brissett, 8. James Dickson, 9.Liam Ferdinand, 10. Ben Cook, 11. Sam Deadfield
On the bench: George Reid, Pele Koulsseoue, Zachary Rugman, Harry Bowden, Markus Johnson-Schuster
Referee – Robert Harrison
The game got underway with Stoke attacking down the slope in the first-half, and after a brief attack and free-kick which was poor, Hungerford then attacked and were awarded a penalty, which was converted and we went behind. Hungerford 1-0 Basingstoke
Just passed the fifteenth minute mark, Simon Grant was forced into a save palming the ball away.
Stoke won two further free-kicks which again did not trouble Hungerford’s defence.
Jack Ball was then forced to clear the ball off the line, as Grant’s initial save was knocked past him by a Hungerford striker.
Stoke had a little possession as Robbie Gallagher tested their back four, and we won a couple of corners, but Hungerford’s defence held firm.
The referee allowed three minutes of added-time and went into the break a goal behind.
Half-time Score: Hungerford Town 1 v 0 Basingstoke Town
The second-half got underway with Stoke attacking the covered end, and the first chance fell to Liam Ferdinand, but it failed to trouble the Hungerford keeper.
Stoke still looked to come forward but the pitch and some poor passing did not help our cause.
On the hour-mark we made our change with San Deadfield, replaced by George Reid (60 mins).
Hungerford was looking to double their lead, but Grant made another decent save down low from a dangerous free-kick.
Jack Ball who had taken a knock a minute or so before, was then replaced by Pele Koulsseoue (69 mins).
Hungerford were initially denied a second goal as Grant made another fine save, but they doubled their lead from the resulting corner.
On eighty-eight minutes, Ferdinand neatly turned and shot, but a Hungerford defender blocked the ball four yards out.
Grant made two further saves at the start of seven added-minutes, but Stoke were then awarded a penalty in the last minute of added-time, which James Clark converted GOAL! Hungerford Town 2 v 1 Basingstoke Town (Clark 96 mins Pen)
The game restarted only for the referee to blow time on the game.
Full-time Score: Hungerford Town 2 v 1 Basingstoke Town
McGrory 7 mins Pen, Softley 74 mins, Clark 96 mins (Pen),
Match Thought’s
The game was a drab scrappy affair on a pitch that did not help flowing football. Stoke created few chances throughout the game and were simply second-best in many areas of the pitch.
Simon Grant made a number of save that restricted Hungerford to just the two goals.
With other results around the league, we drop down one place to fourteenth.
Up Next:
We host promotion chasing Havant & Waterlooville next Saturday 22nd KO 3pm at Winklebury.
Match Report by Martin French..
Polish 
English 
First time at Hungerford and this pitch was a disgrace. How does any footballing side play on a pitch like this. As for the game, we looked second best in most tackles and challenges.
Did not see too much from the new player Dickson, but he was not the worst on the pitch.