Basingstoke & District Saturday League Match Reports

Most clubs were involved in the Peter Raynbird Cup, including the outstanding First Round Replay between Herriard Sports and Basingstoke Labour Club. When these two met last month the referee refused to play extra time after they had drawn 3-3 and in the shootout he ordered, Herriard ran off winners. This result was declared void and a replay ordered and this time it was Labour who ran off 2-0 winners and will now meet Basingstoke United in the second round later in the month. With no Chris Dobbie and their other striker Sam Cato well held by Labour midfielders Charlie Coughlin and Louis Chambers, Herriard struggled to get a grip on the game and in the 38th minute Matt Kelly opened the scoring following a good through ball from Counglin. Cato did have a couple of chances but fired wide and then in the 70th minute his side went two goals down. Kelly this time was the provider, pulling a good ball back for Aaron Johns to beat keeper Steve Wood who replaced Dave Purt, who had to go off injured. Wood had to pull off a fine save from Mark Thorpe header as Labour proved the better team this time.

The big surprise was in the second round of the Peter Raynbird Cup when at Barlow’s Park visitors Bounty United defeated Tadley Calleva A 3-1 to move into the Quarter Finals. Tadley swept into a second minute lead when a 50 yard free kick taken by Luke Walkley caused havoc in United defence and Kye Theodore put way the loose ball. In the 24th over came a well taken corner kick by Player/ Manager Jordon Willis and was met at the far post with a header from Andy Neal to level. Five minutes before the break Bounty took the lead when Willis took a pass from Sam Wells 40 yards out and after a strong run beat the keeper from the edge of the box. Wells was in the thick of it after this, clearing twice off the line to preserve their lead and then in the 80th minute Alex Izzo sent a good ball through to Jordon Wainwright, his shot hit the bar and rebounded for Willis to put away his second and ensure. a place in the Quarter Finals.

D.C.U.K. are also through to the last eight after beating the current Division One leaders Twentyten 3-1 at Preston Candover. They were however a goal down in the tenth minute when a shot from James Arnold hit the post and then ended up in off Shaun Searle who was in between the DC sticks this week. Joe Hill had a great to make it two but shot straight at Searle and they were to pay for the miss when in the 30th over came a long cross from Lorne Howard and Ben Nicholls was on the end of it and just before half time they went further ahead. A free kick taken by Ross Harwood found the unmarked Stuart Austen who put away the free header. .By the 50th minute it was game over when the Twentyten keeper Harry Nash could not get a strong enough hand on the free kick take by Harry Rudge.

No other result was expected at Hook where lowly placed Division Two Chineham visited, 9-2 in Hook’s favour the final score. It took them just three minutes to open the scoring when James Neville set up a chance for Adam Arthurs. In the 23rd Sam Barker headed in a corner by Morgan Davies and a minute later Andy Parker scored the third after good play by Jon Noakes and Arthurs. Sam Wells played a one two with Andy Parker to net the fourth and by half time they were six up, Arthurs and James Neville scoring with assists from Morgan Davies. Early in the second half a soft seventh netted by Neville and then in a rare raid Chineham pulled a goal back it was a run by Eugenio Carrasco and a curling shot from Luke Russell. Arthurs then completed his hat trick from another Neville assist and Neville was involved in the ninth, converted by Andy Parker. In the last couple of minutes Chineham came again with their second, scored by Luke Russell.

Basingstoke Athletic proved too good for Division two Overton United B, winning 3-1 at Berrydown. Overton did well to keep a clean sheet until the 52nd minute and then Ryan Evans put Athletic ahead. Overton replied in the 62nd with a deflected shot from Jamie Smith. Two quick goals from Athletic sunk any hopes Overton had when. Paul Taylor sent a good ball though for Nathan Read and three minutes later in the 75th Evans took another pass from Taylor and lifted the ball over the keeper to put them through.

Basingstoke Royals had no problem knocking out AFC Aldermaston Reserves, winning 4-1 at the Recreation Ground. In the 15th minute Stephen Horton cut back a perfect pass for Cobi Judd to slot into the empty net. A volley by Richard Willcock following a corner taken by Ama Bhuller made it 2-0, but Aldermaston hit back in the 34th when a shot by James Edwards hit the post and Tommy James followed up to put away the rebound. The Aldermaston defence kept the visitors out until the 55th and then a free kick from Craig Barker was met with a fine volley by Steve Harvey. Matthew Rayner and Ricky Waknell went close for Aldermaston, but they conceded a fourth when Willcock put away a corner taken by Jamie Grove.

Basingstoke Saturday League

Division Two.
Two of the newcomers to the league, Longdog Soldiers and Origin met each other; both have been languishing at the bottom of the table and were looking for their first win. It was Origin who ran off winners in this epic battle, winning 5-4. It was Soldiers the better starters as they went into a three goal lead. Tom Perry scored the opener after playing a one two with Tom Adams, who then forced an own goal and followed this by scoring again by the 40th minute. Stefan Graham pulled a goal back for Origin, but Soldiers came again, Lewis Trodd scoring with a free kick. They lost their shape after this and conceded a penalty, converted by Graham. Two quick goals from Adam Bowman saw Origin level and with 15 minute to play Tony McClaren came up with the decider.

AFC Aldermaston A could not raise enough players to meet AFC Berg.