Match Report: Sholing 2 – 2 Basingstoke Town – Saturday 15th March 2025

Southern League Premier South – Saturday 15th March 2025
Sholing 2 v 2 Basingstoke Town Attendance 518
Where: The Mortgage Decisions Stadium, Portsmouth Road, Southampton, SO19 9PW
Manager Dan Brownlie’s starting line-up for the game at Sholing was: 1. Mack Allan, 2. Lewis Colwell, 3. Marcus Johnson-Schuster, 4. James Dickson, 5.Jack Ball, 6. James Clark, 7. Jayden Brissett, 8. Ben Cook (Capt), 9.Liam Ferdinand, 10. Robbie Gallagher, 11. George Reid
On the bench: Scott Armsworth, Connor Barratt, Zach Rugman & Harry Bowden
Referee – Jacob Wright

With the sun out, on a cold March afternoon, the game got underway and it was Stoke who opened the scoring from a corner, as Liam Ferdinand found Jack Ball who took a touch and then found the back of the net GOAL! Sholing 0 – 1 Basingstoke Town (Ball 2 mins)

Stoke continued to be the team pushing forward, with initially good work from Jayden Brissett and Robbie Gallagher, but the chance to shoot was delayed and blocked by the defender.

On twenty minutes Sholing had their first real attack, and forced a corner and a further corner a minute later that both were dealt with. However, a soft free-kick is given to Sholing, who equalised as the ball flicks off Jack Ball and into the net. Sholing 1-1 Basingstoke

Three minutes later, Mack Allan was then forced into making a decent save from a powerful shot.
Thirty-minutes in, Stoke had a call for a penalty for handball, but the referee waived play-on.

Sholing looked to assert more pressure, but Stoke with Ben Cook & James Dickson won more than their share of 50/50 tackles in the middle of the park.

In the final five minutes of the half, Stoke came close to taking the lead, as Brissett’s shot was saved on the line by the Sholing keeper.
We played four minutes of added-time, before the referee called a halt, and we went into the break level.

Half-time Score: Sholing 1 v 1 Basingstoke Town
After Stoke had the opening minutes of pressure on the Sholing goal, it was Sholing who nearly retook the lead, but Allan’s save down low matched the powerful shot.

Stoke’s next attack came minutes later, as good work from Brissett, and then Ball found James Clark eight yards, but his shot flew over the bar, although the linesman then flagged for offside.
It was Allan to the rescue just past the hour mark, as he made another fine save from a Sholing header.

Robbie Gallagher was starting to influence the game, as he beat his marker twice in the space of two minutes, and a minute later their defender should have seen his marching orders, who was already on a yellow, after he hacked down Gallagher.

Sholing then took the lead, as a free-kick fell to a Sholing player who slotted the ball home.

Stoke then instantly bounced back, as they won a penalty within a minute of the restart, as Sholing’s keeper pulled down Gallagher. James Clark stepped-up and made no mistake finding the top right-hand corner of the net. GOAL!! Sholing 2 – 2 Basingstoke Town (73 mins Pen)

Stoke continued to push for the winner, as Ben Cook looked to open up the Sholing defence, but a cross from Reid, was blocked away.
Ferdinand then found the net minutes later, but the flag was up for offside.

In the final ten minutes Stoke made their first change with George Reid replaced by Connor Barratt (83 mins).

Gallagher then forced an excellent close-range save out of the Sholing keeper.
Stoke won two corners in the final two minutes of normal time, but Sholing held firm.
Sholing’s keeper was then forced to make a save from Gallagher’s header in added-time.

The referee then called time after six added-minutes, and we shared the points.

Full-time Score: Sholing 2 v2 Basingstoke Town
Taylor 24 & 70 Mins,                  Ball 2 mins, Clark 65 mins (Pen)

Match Thought’s
Stoke had some good periods of play against a stiff Sholing defence, whilst Mack Allan made some crucial saves at the start of the second-half to keep us in the game.
A fairly even game and we were worthy of an important point, which keeps us in sixteenth place, with most of the other games in the league, going in our favour.
A good all-round performance in what was a biting wind in the second-half.
Up Next:
We host Frome Town in a potential six-pointer next Saturday 22nd at Winklebury.

Match Report by Martin French..