Basingstoke & District League Match Reports from Saturday 25th November, By Peter Raynbird.

Peter Raynbird Cup
Division Two AFC Berg continue their unbeaten season by beating Overton United A 7-1 to move into the Semi Finals of the Peter Raynbird Cup, the fourth time this season they have beaten a Division One side in cup competitions. It was in the 15th minute when Ashley Burchett took a corner kick and it ended up in the net for the lead. Berg were then awarded a penalty soon after and Carlos Gonzales missed, but when they had another spot kick given in the 30th minute, this time he made no mistake. Overton pulled one back through Siyani Thomas but by the break Gonzales scored again for a 3-1 advantage. It was all Berg in the second half when Dave Brickwood’s side were well on top and goals flowed with Lee Neal and Kieran Alleyne scoring two apiece.
It was always expected Hook would go to go through as they were playing Division Two Twentyten Reserves and although they did eventually make it to the last four by winning 2-1, it was not a very convincing win. Once again Manager Humphries Sims was in goal with regular Greg Archer at centre back as Hook has players unavailable at the present. Before Hook could get going it was the visitors who looked impressive and Dan Hancock hit the post when through on goal. It was in the 30th minute when Hook took the lead with a rather fortunate goal. Jack McKee took a pass from Peter Silvester and his shot deflected into the net off Twentyten defender Dan Mellish. Just before half time a free kick from Mark Smith found the head of Tom Mole, but somehow it was clawed out by keeper Sims. The second for Hook came from a soft looking penalty when a shot by Tim Hearson hit Jack Barrett on the hand and Tom Davies put the spot kick away. Twentyten replied with a gosl from Hancock following a Mark Smith free kick. And in the final minute Barrett thought he had equalised when his header hit the underside of the bar, bounced down he felt was over the line, the referee thought otherwise so it remained 2-1 to Hook.
Twentyten First team are through however after beating Division Two challengers Sherborne Saints 3-0 at Preston Candover, with all three goals scored by Joe Osborne. They had a good first half, but just the one goal to show for their efforts when Osborne scored following a corner kick and later Joe Hill had a couple of chances not taken. Saints improved in the second half when Ben Dillen shot wide and an effort by Stuart Cubbage hit the keeper on the head. Liam Doran also might have done better with his two opportunities. James Swallows saved a 60th Penalty for the Saints, taken by Joe Hill. It was Twentyten who were able to find the net, although it was not until the 75th when Osborne scored his second when put through by Lucas Pickett and then five minutes later it was all over when Osborne completed his hat trick with an assist from Jake Tanner. The Twentyten manger had good words to say about his defenders Ben Osborne, Charlie Hill and James Arnold, all very sound at the back, keeping a clean sheet for the second week.
The other club through to the Semi Final is lowly placed Division Two side Chineham who lost 4-1 to Somesay in the Quarter Finals. A protest that Somesay played an ineligible player was upheld and they were eliminated from the cup and the tie was awarded to Chineham.
Basingstoke Junior B
Somesay met Basingstoke Athletic for the third week running and it ended with the same result, a win for them as they cruised through to the Semi Finals of the Basingstoke B Cup with a 4-2 win, thanks to a Joe Hodge hat trick this time. His first came in the 25th minute when put through by Connor Stratton and although Athletic equalised in the 40th minute through George Byrne, Hodge netted again after playing a one two with Cullum Greenley in the 50th minute. Marco Howard then missed an open goal for Athletic and in the 65th minute Kane Wilson went of fine run, past three men and his 20-yard shot proved too good for the Athletic keeper for a 3-1 lead. In the 70th Hodge scored his third and their fourth when he was on the end of a cross from Harry Chapman. Athletic did manage another in a counter attack when Howard was put through by Paul Taylor, but Somesay deserved to get through to the last four.
Basingstoke Junior A Cup
Herriard Sports go through to the Semi Finals of the Basingstoke A Cup after their AFC Aldermaston Reserves called the game off on Friday evening and so concede the tie. They had insufficient player to fulfil the match.
North Hants Junior Cup First Round
Winklebury Wizards are through to the second round of the North Hants Junior Cup by beating Basingstoke Colts 5-4, but they found it hard against their Division Two opponents. Joe Lake gave them the lead, but after missing two good chances Benica Oprea chipped the equaliser. George Lagden restored the Wizards lead but a solo run by Oprea made it 2-2. An unlucky own goal by Colts keeper Reece Emery and another from Lagden put Wizards 4-2 ahead and Lagden completed his hat trick with a lofted 50-yard effort that beat Emery soon after. There was a strong final fifteen by Colts when Oprea scored his third a fine volley from a Bradley Coates cross, Bradley Coates scored the 4th for Colts. But Colts could not find the equaliser.