Basingstoke & District Saturday League Match Reports

The opening of the new season saw Hook, the Division One Champions continue as they left off with an excellent 4-2 win against AFC Aldermaston Reserves. The Aldermaston club pulled out of the Reading League to return to the Basingstoke League this season, but fell behind in the 23rd minute when a cross from Pete Silvetser was headed firmly into the net by Sam Barker. Aldermaston equalized in the 37th through Stephen Francis following a good ball from Paul Grundy, but close on half time Hook restored their lead. Good interplay play by Silvester and Stuart Parker led to Dan Mellors beating the keeper. Silvester was also instrumental in laying on the fourth, put away by Parker. A fight back by Aldermaston in the 80th minute brought a great volley from Shaabbnz Francis, but a minute later Parker was brought down by Grundy and got up to put away the awarded penalty kick.


Basingstoke Royals have returned to the league after a season in the Sunday League and proved too good for Basingstoke Athletic, beating them 5-2. Crain Barker received a pass from Stephen Horton in the 15th minute and put away the chance. Athletic replied in the 30th through Matt Stillwell, but in the 40th Barker and Ama Bhuller combined for Tobi Judd to net from close in and regain their lead at the break. in the 55th it became 3-1 when a long throw from Judd was flicked on by Barker and Dan Trump placed the ball past keeper Luke Allison. In the 70th and free taken by Dave Trevelion took a deflection off Stuart Urquhart to pull in back to 3-2, but late goals from Ashley Taylor and Horton sealed the points for Royals.


It was a tight game at Barlow’s Park between Tadley Calleva A and D.C.U.K. that ended in a 1-1 draw. Tadley Manager Bradley Nash felt his team had done enough to win all three points, even with his main scorer Kyle Theorore who netted 51 goals last season. Michael Abbott was pushed up front to cover and he gave them the lead after 14 minutes. Rob Kelly went on a good run and his cross was headed home by Abbott. Luke Allaston and Kelly both missed good chances for Tadley and Ash Saunders headed against the post. The visitors team comprised mostly of the Tron side that won Division Two last season and then withdrew and it was one of their key men Stuart Austen who came up with the 70th minute equalizer, a thunderous volley from 35 yards shot into the top corner. Ben Nicholls had a great chance to seal maximum points for them when with ten minutes to play was right through, but failed to beat keeper who pulled off a good save.


Promoted Basingstoke United started life in Division One with the scalp of Twentyten, beating them 1-0 at Brighton Hill. It was a fairly even game, although Twentyten shaded it in possession. It was however only the excellent goalkeeping by James Sallows that stopped Twentyten sewing it up in the first half when he pulled off excellent saves from good efforts by Dave Vallence, James Arnold and Jake Tanner. Sallows continued to keep a clean sheet and then in the 75th minute a break by Tom Hartley led to the goal to decide the game. With the heavy rain making things difficult, his cross led to mistake at the back and Joe Cook snapped up his chance.


Division Two

Relegated Basingstok Labour Club got off with bang, beating AFC Berg 5-1. Cameron George, their target man last season with31 goals, has signed for Wessex League side Amesbury Town this season so it was left to his side kick Matt Kelly to give them a good start. Kelly netted twice in the opening 25 minute s and laid on the third, put away by ex Sherborne striker Ibrahian Waheed. With the 3-0 half time lead Kelly had to leave as he started his holidays, but it mattered not as Josh Dickens made it 4-0 with an assist from Waheed. Ben Clark pulled a goal back for Berg, but Wayne Barlow found his son Jack with good pass and he made no mistake for the Labour fifth.


The visit by AFC Aldermaston A to Berrydown did not go well, for although Manager Ben Jones felt they played well enough in the second half, they were trailing 2-0 by then. Jamal Rose opened the scoring for Overton United B in the 38th minute when a good ball from the left by Liam Randall fell to him. In the 42nd Rose scored his second, Randall again with the assist. Excellent play by Nuno Frango played through to give Richard Budd a chance as they ended the half on top. In the second half Aldermaston improved and goalkeeper Gavin Alexander, Overton’s capture from Winklebury Wizards, played his part, along with a sound back four and they managed to keep a clean sheet, although they were fortunate when a free kick, taken by Jordon Deemer hit the woodwork.


Newcomers Longdog Soldiers came up against anon song Winklebury Wizards in their opening game and suffered a 9-0 defeat. Richard Lowther opened the scoring on eight minute and George Lagden soon headed home the second. Lowther made it 3-0 and after a 30 yard solo run Dean Scott added another and a short corner taken by Steve Hadley led to Josh Craig ending the half well on top. The dominance continued in the second half when Lagden completed his hat trick and further goals came via Andre Brown, Joe West and Alex Stevens.


There was also plenty of goals at Herriard where the home side won 9-1 against Twenryten Reserves, with six from Chris Dobbie. Graham Jenkins, who ran TDI Group last season, has joined up with Alan Spacagna, the Twentyten boss to keep the team going. Graham always looks on the bright side of life and although it was a very heavy defeat. felt some good things came out of the game. Herriard Manager Craig Lewington meanwhile, looks to have retained all of last season squad that won the Basingstoke B Cup, with his strike force of Sam Cato and Chris Dobbie still with him. It was Dobbie who did the early damage scoring a hat trick in the opening 32 minutes. His third from a penalty after Alex Roberts was brought down.. James Brown did manage to get a goal back with a half volley, but a Dobbie netted his fourth from a Cato assist. Cato and Weber added further goals to make it 6-1 just before the break. in the 65th a Matt Goodman led to Dobbie’s fifth and Weber passed for the eight. It was Dobbie the creator. for the final goal, put away by Weber. .