Basingstoke & District League Match Reports from Saturday 8th September, By Peter Raynbird.

A one minute silence was observed in all Basingstoke Saturday and Sunday matches in respect after the sad passing on of John Ward, who along with John Povey formed the Basingstoke Sunday League back in 1966 and has served on a number of positions as an administrator in the League. He was the North Hants FA President and a Life Vice President of the Hampshire F A and the Basingstoke & District Football League. John will be badly missed by all involved in local football. Our commiserations go to his dear wife Freda and his family.
Division One
I made the trip to Silchester, a ground I have not been to for several years and was greeted by the jovial Paul Evans who has been associated with the teams playing on the Green for the past 39 years. Paul, who lives in the village, is at present gathering up information to bring out a magazine with the history of the football club. He is Chairman of the newly formed Silchester Village team, is grounds man and general dogs body and he made tea for us at half time. The Silchester Village team are now back in the league and could not have of had a better introduction with a home game against established Herriard Sports and they ran off impressive 7-0 winners. I saw this game and on this form Alan Hibbs team should be challengers for the Division One title. The squad was littered with former Tadley Calleva players, including Kyle Theodore who scored four of the goals, with another Tadley striker Peter White netting twice. Herriard did have decent amount of the play in the opening 15 minutes with chances falling to Chris Dobbie, Connor Lovell and Weber but after Silchester took the lead on 18 minutes when Peter White was on the end of a corner by Luke McLean, they were not at the races. White put Matt Foreman through for the second and was also involved in the third on 43 minutes to give Theodore his first. It was 4-0 at the break with Jake Nesbit and Jordon Ingram combining for Theodore to beat the keeper. Three minutes after the break a fine overhead kick by White proved too good for the keeper and they went 6-0 up when Theodore had an easy tap in. Theodore then netted his fourth by the 73rd minute with a well struck free kick just outside th penalty area.
The other Division One match was up the road at Aldermaston where AFC Aldermaston Reserves shared a nine goal thriller with AFC Berg, with Berg winning 5-4 thanks to a late winner from Ben Clarke. Berg went 2-0 up in he first half, Carlos Gonzales and Lee Neal scoring, both from assists from Ashley Elward. A mistake by Victor DeSay handed Gonzales his second for a 3-0 lead soon after half time, but in the 55th Aldermaston hit back. Sac Tull scored from a cross by Liam Belcher and a 35 yard free kick from Tull was too good for keeper Torren Kirrage. Belcher then equalised from a Jamal Forde centre and Forde missed a penalty for them. Belcher hit the post as they pressed and they took the lead through Forde with five minutes to play. Kieran Alleyne made it 4-4 two minutes later, but in the first minute of added time came the Berg winner, Gonzales with the cross and Ben Clarke with header.
Division Two
Newly formed Renegades proved too good for Basingstoke Athletic, having a 4-1 win in their opening game. Ricky Smith gave them a 20th minute lead from a Matt Baker assist, but five minutes later Athletic had great chance to level, but keeper Dave Purt saved the Kieran Challis spot kick, his first miss in the last twenty he has taken. Paul Taylor then hit the bar for Athletic before the break. Smith made it 2-0 in the 50th from a Matt Smith assist and Baker made it 3-0 in the 63rd with a well struck 25 yard effort. Athletic did pull a goal back in the 67th Keyron Hylton from a cross by Aaron Barton, but a breakaway by Ash Burhcett, he found Smith and his pass led to George Lagden finishing well.
It is Oakridge who head Division Two. They only drew 1-1 with AFC Berg Reserves, but after being awarded the three points for their cancelled match against AFC Aldermaston A the previous week, they top the division. It was an even first half until in the 43rd minute scored with a 20 yard shot from Connor Parker, to give Oakridge the lead. In the second half they almost doubled their lead when Mark Bone hit the bar, but in the 60th Berg drew level. through Karl Holborough who broke from the half way line, continued his solo run and cut in to finish with low shot just inside the penalty area. Jake Barnes, in the Oakridge goal did well with a couple of good saves.
Twentyten Reserves had perhaps 80% of the play against North Warnborough, but came home pointless after losing 3-1. Borough manager Trevor Craig continued his policy of giving young players a chance and fielded two 16 year olds Dylan Mothersole and Sam Dulley. They went in front on 16 minutes when Liam Self took a pass from Khalil Bentaleb to open their account. Reece Emery played his part in making two very good saves to keep them in the game and in the 60th minute they went two goals ahead Luke Scannelli picked up a long clearance and scored from 30 yards out. Jake Tanner pulled a gosl back fort Twentyten in the 75th but the points were sewn up when Benito Oprea after coming on as substitute, broke clear and added a third.
Overton United B were too strong for Chineham at Berrydown and had an easy 5-1 win. Andy Tottman gave United the lead from a cross by Sami Eldori and an own goal in the 27th minutes, a sliced clearance by Tom Roworth following a cross from Kevin Beaumont, ended up in the net to make it 2-0 in the 27th.. Chineham held out until the 48th minute when Lou McCann found Tottman who tucked in the cross for a 3-0 lead. Ross Harwood then scored the fourth from a Duncan Leahy assist. Chineham managed to claw one back when their Spanish striker Eugenio Carrato who went on a solo run and finished well. There was two one on one chances that fell to Shane West before the fifth goal came. It was from a penalty, awarded when Eder Oliveira rushed out and brought down Tottman, the Overton striker took the spot kick it was saved by the keeper but he was unable to keep out the rebound for the Tottman hat trick.