Basingstoke & District League Handbook
Basingstoke & District League Handbook
30/08/24
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With the current Premier Division leaders Basingstoke Royals having no game, the only two challengers Hook and Rising Sun DC picked up three points,
although in both matches it was close. I was at Sherborne St John to see Hook just mange a 2-1 victory, thanks to a late goal from centre back Jon Noakes. Sherborne put up a good performance throughout, although they had striker Matt Livingstone in goal again. Livingstone pulled off a fine save with his feet from shot from Dave White just before Hook went in front in the 28th minute. A poor back pass from Spencer Champ had the keeper struggling to take under pressure from Andy Parker and the loose ball fell to White who snapped up the chance. Although Hook had more of the possession, Sherborne always looked dangerous and their equalizer came in the 75th minute. A fine cross fielded 40 yard pass from Asher Pirie was met with 30 yard volley out on the left from Declan Shuttleworth and finished out of Greg Archers reach and into the top corner. It was in the 82nd minute when the winner came. A cross from the right from Dan Mellors swung into the six yard box and the diving header from Noakes proved the winner. Rising Sun DC also won by the odd goal in five on their visit to Bramley United. United had just the bare eleven against this strong Rising Sun team and fell behind in the 20th minute when Luke Richardson netted and it became 2-0 when Jamie Ballentyne made it 2-0. Bramley came back in the 40th when awarded a penalty after Nick Harris was brought down and Ben Squibb converted and then in the 65th minute they drew level. It was a free kick from Squibb and a strong header from Sam Cato, back after a three week absence through injury, that flashed into the net to level the scores. It was Richardson who came up to with the winner with eight minutes to go. Tadley Calleva A as expected picked up max points against bottom club Welly Old Boys, with Kye Theodore scoring six in this 10-2 win and so taking his tally for the season to 37. It was Simon Penfold who gave them a second minute lead, but Welly replied in the 6th when James Brown lobbed the keeper after picking up a poor back pass from Ashley Saunders. Goals are rare from Welly, in fact this is their first since they lost 8-2 to Hook in the North Hants Intermediate Cup back in October. Two minutes after they had equalized their keeper Martin Wild when off balance punched into his own net. Goals from Theodore and Gary Hibbs made it 4-1 by the break and as Tadleys marksman completed his hat trick, Brown scored again for Welly following a pass from Josh Perkins. 7-2 looked a reasonable result for Graham Jenkins side, but in the final three minute the rampant Theodore took advantage of the tiring defence to add three more.
Overton United A are the Division One Champions. They clinched the title with two matches left to play after beating their only real rivals Hampshire Irons 2-1 at Brighton Hill. Manager Danny Smith can now look forward to completing the double when his team plays in the Finals of the North Hants Junior Cup against Kingsclere at the end of the month. It was Irons leading after 20 minutes through Kieron Dent, but Overton drew level in the 40th minute with a bullet shot from 25 yards out from Luke Manton. It was always close until in the 70th minute when a through ball from Matt Wilson found John Gurney, who took on three men and beat keeper Jack Rickard. Irons almost forced extra time in the last minute when they hit the bar. Bottom of the table North Warnborough put up a good fight against DJS Telecoms, but in the end lost 3-2. Allan Morgan headed DJS in front after 20 minutes from Paul Dolan corner, but Borough replied also from a corner, taken by Bradley Yates and put away by Liam Martin. In the 50th Nick Saunders regained the lead, but again the visitors leveled when Chris Hobson was beaten by the Jason Williams header from a James Newman corner. Both teams pressed for the winner and it came for Danny Staffords team five minutes from time when Morgan was again on target. Joe Hill had two in the net by the 23rd minute as Twentyten won 3-0 against Hook Reserves. His first came in the seventh minute when he picked up a pass from Christian Cox and hit the net from 25 yards. Adam Elesgood played him through for his second in the 23rd and but for two saves from keeper Tony Foster he would have completed a straight hat trick by the break. Hook did improve in the second half, but it was Carl Pearson making it 3-0 after good build up by Joe Osborne and Hill. Los Wright almost scored for Hook from a header and Dave Mohammed went close on two occasions, but in the end another defeat.