Basingstoke & District League Handbook
Basingstoke & District League Handbook
30/08/24
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Hook won through to the Final of the Peter Raynbird Cup after beating Sherborne St John 4-3 in a very close Semi Final at Hook and will now meet Rising Sun DC at Winklebnury on Saturday 25th April KO 6.30 p.m.
They went into a 3rd minute lead when keeper Dave Poynton missed a cross from Aaron King and Dan Mason scored. In the 6th it became 2-0 when a King cross led to Andy Haig scoring from 15 yards. With only 15 minutes gone a cross from Alex Izzo led to an own goal to put them back in the game but two minutes after the break Mason headed Hook 3-1 ahead. Spence Champ put away a corner by Sachin Rai and as they pressed the equalizer came Dec Shuttleworth hit the bar and soon after this Izzo played Shuittleworth through for the equalizer. The winner came in the 83rd minute, scored by Andy Parker who came on as substitute, a volley from a fine James Westwood pass.
Unbeaten Basingstoke Royals stepped a little closer to the Premier Division Championship that looks inevitable after a 1-1 draw with Rising Sun DC, one of the only clubs who could conceivably catch them, although this is very unlikely to happen. It was from a penalty Royals took the lead in the first half, put away by James Gilham and although the game was competitive throughout it was not until the 89th minute when Rising Sun equalized. A throw in by Shaun Searle fell to Stuart Austen and his shot proved too good for keeper Richard Munday.
Tadley Calleva A registered a 6-0 win at home to Bramley United, their fourth in in a row and it takes them third in the table. There was no inclination of such a convincing victory in the opening 20 minutes when Bramley could have been four goals up but for some outstanding saves from keeper Darren Maunder. The situation changed in the 23rd minute when Stephen Burgess gave Tadley the lead and added another within five minutes. Before the break it became 3-0 with Kye Theodore was on target with his 44th goal of the season. Andy Johnson was one of the half time made changes and his cross was met by Lee Champion for a 4-0 lead. Theodore added another and finally Gary Harper came up to net his first goal in thirteen appearances this season.
The Division One position looks to be coming to a very unsatisfactory conclusion. Overton were confirmed Champions the week before, but the Runners Up Shield is still not resolved. Last Saturday Twentyten were awarded the three points as Hook Reserves could not raise a team and also on the day North Warnborough cried off against second placed Hampshire Irons. Jim Head has already cancelled their outstanding away game against Twentyten, sue to be played this Saturday and now it is a question as to whether they will be able to get enough players together to meet Twentyten at North Warnborough the week after. At the moment they need to win this remaining game to ensure finishing Runner Up, while Hampshire Irons will end up third.
Division Two is a much more competitive competition. The leaders Basingstoke Labour Club could and only drew 2-2 against Winklebury Wizards and although they are five points clear they have only one game left to play while the chasers have games in hand.
Without key players, Cameron George, out injured for the season and Matt Kelly they are not the same force and did well to come away with a point. Mark West did give them a 22nd minute lead with a 25 yard wind assisted shot and they held this until the 50th minute when a cross from Scott Large was headed no by Ben Clark for Josh Dickens to level. In the 58th Wizards took a deserved lead when Large sent Conner Stratton on a run through the middle and in a one on one with keeper Sam Cook, found the back of the net. The equalizer came with two minutes remaining. A free kick was launched up field and was picked up by West who again beat Cook to win a point for his club.
There was a big set back in the hopes of Bounty United winning the title when they were beaten at home by Basingstoke United 4-2. Without their strike force of Matt Love and Mitchell Stokes they are perhaps not the same force, but they did take the lead after two minutes when a curling free kick taken by Steve Bucksey led to Jordon Willis heading them in front. In the 20th United drew level through Joe Cook after being put through by Tom Hartley and in the 35th a good ball from Dan Southgate found Hartley for the lead.
Bounty got back on level terms in the 55th when a ball from Simon Farrell led to Brad Neal heading past the keeper. United were always dangerous and in the 75th minute Cook scored his second. Bounty pressed and almost equalized when Craig Williamson headed against the bar, but it was United who were to ensure of the points when Cook completed his hat trick with the Bounty back four were exposed again..
Aldermaston A managed to beat Overton United B 1-0. The lone goal winner came from the rare effort by full back Richard Nash, a pile driver some 40 yards out. Richard Harris in the Overton goal pulled off an outstanding save when Kevin Flain looked certain to extend the lead. A tackle by Tommy James stopped Darren White equalizing for Overton late in the game.
Kyle Buckland was back on track with a hat trick for Preston Candover in their 5- 1 win against AFC Berg, taking his tally for the season to 25. It was close in the first half with the 5th minute goal from Lewis Hamilton separating the two teams. In the f50th minute Kyle Buckland headed home his first from a Ben Coe corner kick and soon after this Michael Fuller put away a cross from Richard Spears for a 3-0 advantage. Kieran Alleyne netted for Berg, but there was no holding on form Buckland who scored his second when new signing Josh Taylor gave him the chance and now well in control Buckland netted his third late in the game.