Basingstoke & District League Handbook
Basingstoke & District League Handbook
30/08/24
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In Division One Overton United A were due to play their final game, home to North Warnborough, but due to lack of players by their opponents the game was cancelled. With the three points being awarded, it means they are now clear Champions.
In the Premier Division Basingstoke Royals, who look certain to win the Championship even with six matches left to play, were held to a 3-3 draw by Hook. Before this game the last and only time they have failed to win in the league was back in September when Bramley United drew 2-2 with them. They went in front in the first minute through James McIntosh and in the 20th it became 2-0 when Scott Harvey lobbed keeper Greg Archer from 18 yards. Hook came back strongly and James Westwood shot inches over the bar for them before Dan Mason pulled a goal back in the 30th following a cross from Dave White. In the 34th Royals were shaken when a cross from White fell to Pete Silvester, his shot was blocked, but Aaron King was on hand to shoot past Richard Mundy from eight yards out to level the scores. Two minutes before the break Royals regained their lead when Matt Dean scored following a pass from Harvey. In the second half Archer made another good save to stop them increasing the lead and although pressing, it was Hook who scored the next and only goal. It came from a penalty kick after Munday had brought down King, who then converted for Hook to take a point to keep them in second spot in the table.
In Division One Overton United A were due to play their final game, home to North Warnborough, but due to lack of players by their opponents the game was cancelled. With the three points being awarded, it means they are now clear Champions.
The fight for the Runners Up Shield continues and the 4-3 exciting win by Twentyten over challengers DJS Telecoms has put them right in the running just one point behind Hampshire Irons with a match in hand and looking favourites. Their final three matches are home and away to bottom club North Warnborough and Hook Reserves who they meet on Saturday and they are second from bottom. This latest win, making it seven from their last eight, looked most unlikely when they were trailing 3-1 with eleven minutes left. Carlos Gonzalez gave DJS a fifteen minute lead, but three minutes later a flick on by Joe Hill was headed home by Jordon Wainwright. In the second half their stand keeper Ryan Luckton misjudged a free kick for Craig Roshier to put DJS 2-1 ahead and a solo goal following a stumble by Adam Elesgood allowed Gonzalez to make it 3-1. It was in the 79th minute a corner kick was met with a half volley from Joe Osborne and was diverted into his own goal by Pete Lomax. Twentyten were now flying and in the 88th minute they equalized when Joe Hill headed home a Wainwright corner kick. In added time came the decider. DJS had a corner, it was cleared up field and as an attemted pass back fell short the keeper, in nipped Jake Tanner to hold off his man and score before the final whistle went to end the game.
In Division Two the 2-1 win for Basingstoke Labour Club against Basingstoke Athletic has taken them four points clear at the top and it now looks to be a closer finish for the title than expected. This was only the second league defeat of the season for Athletic who fell behind in the 20th minute when Cameron George rounded the keeper following a good through ball from Mark West. Athletic drew level in the 40th. Tobie Hyde passed to Dave Trevellion, his shot was parried by keeper Sam Cook and Ryan Evans was on hand to head in the rebound. In the 55th Labour regained the lead through Matt Kelly, an easy chance after a good ball from George. Athletic had plenty of the play, but Wayne Barlow, Matt Read and Mason Lewis defended well at the back to keep their slender lead
With five matches left to play as opposed to Labours two, Athletic are still favourites, although Bounty United remain still well in the hunt.
On Saturday I went to Castle Field to see them play Winklebury Wizards and in a very tight competitive game Bounty emerged 1-0 winners with five minutes left. This impressive young side, under Manager Tommy Clegg, played good football throughout, with their front men Ryan Watts and Ben Clark always threatening and Hugo Carlos dangerous behind them and at the back Liam Grainger, their 16 years old centre back and sweeper Dean Scott made things very difficult for the more experienced Bounty men. In the 35th minute only an outstanding save by Richard Vinn stopped Ryan Watts giving Wizards the lead. Matt Love dragged a good chance wide for Bounty, but Wizards were unlucky when a shot by Robson Pereira was cleared off the line by Phil Case and Ben Clark also had a shot cleared. With the wind in their favour Bounty had more of the play in the second half, but Love was right through and off target with his finishing shot. It was in the 85th minute when Lee Barton, who came on as substitute, took a defence splitting pass down the middle from Mitchell Stokes and coolly lobbed keeper Gavin Alexander.
Herriard Sports suffered a 3-0 defeat at Berrydown against lowly placed Overton United B. Manager Craig Lewington rested several of his usual team in preparation for the Basingstoke B Cup Final at Winklebury on Saturday evening against Basingstoke Athletic. .The first came in the 49th from Joe Holder and Herriard held them until the 83rd minute when Michael Burry headed home a corner kick. With five to go Liam Randall scored the third with a free header.
Basingstoke United won 4-1 on their visit to Sherborne Reserves, with a hat trick from Tom Hartley. It was goalless until the 30th minute and Hartley scored his first. Five minutes later Hartley passed to Joe Cook who volleyed home for a 2-0 interval lead. Sherborne came back in the 55th with a goal from Ibrahim Waheed from a Tommy Lee pass, but Hartley netted another brace as the home defence wilted. The AFC Aldermaston A match against Preston Candover was cancelled a Aldermaston could not raise a team.