Basingstoke & District Saturday League Match Reports

D.C.U.K are expected to be one of the favourites to take the Division One title and won 6-3 eventually against Twentyten. They found themselves trailing 3-1 at the break, thanks mainly to a hat trick from newly signed Danny Vallance. His first came after fifteen minutes following a knock on from Joe Hill. The visitors leveled in the 25th through Jamie Ballantyne, a header from a Stuart Austen cross, but Vallance had more in the net and it could have been more had Hill been on target with two good chances. On came Shaun Searle for the second half and his presence made a difference. Zac Reynolds made it 3-2 in the 46th from a Ben Nicholls assist and Lorne Howard equalized following a Jonny Ervine corner. Twentyten held out until the 80th when Ashley Elward put Nicholls side in front and further goals came late on from Nicholls and Austen.

Basingstoke United are the surprise package, for after gaining promotion in second spot behind Tron, won again this week, beating AFC Aldermaston Reserves 2-1. It was tricky conditions at Brighton Hill, the pitch cutting up due to the rain and chances were rare, although Tom Hartley had goal disallowed for United. It was however Aldermaston taking the lead in the 41st when keeper James Sallows could only get a hand to the free kick taken by Tommy James which ended up in the net. United equalized in the 52nd minute when a good ball from Jamie Lucas got through, chased by Joe Cook who beat the keeper in a one on one. Cook later hit the bar with a volley before they scored their second and it proved the winner. Lack of concentration at the back led to the goal when a long throw from Gus Reis was not dealt with, a flick on from Lucas led to Cook scoring again just before the final whistle.

Hook managed to pick up maximum points against visitors Basingstoke Athletic, beating them 1-0 with a late goal. Athletic played well and really should have taken the lead when Ryan Evans was right through and lobbed badly wide with only the keeper to beat.

Both Andy Parker and Sam Barker forced very good saved from the Athletic keeper Luke Allison. It remained a very tight and an open game until the 80th minute when the decider came. via Dan Mellors who came on as substitute. He had already hit the post earlier, but his next effort was a winner. It came from a well placed free kick that ended in the top corner.

Basingstoke Royals won again, this week at Castle Fields where they beat Bounty United 3-2. It was Bounty who took the lead after 25 minutes with a sweetly taken free kick that curled past the keeper Robbie Black. After this came several good saves from the Bounty keeper Richie Vinn before he was beaten by a deflected shot from Mark Horton, in off Sam Hicks. Further goal from Scott Harvey and Brendon Vickery made it 3-1 in their favour before former Sherborne winger Alex Izzo managed a second for Bounty.

Division Two

Chris Dobbie, the Herriard Sports striker was in top form again, for he followed up the six goals he netted against Twentyten Reserves the previous week with another six as his side defeated AFC Aldermaston A 9-0 away. . Gary Bone had to take over in goal as

their regular was injured in the warm up and it did not take long for Dobbie to open his account. In fact it was in the second minute, a 35 yard free kick. By half time it was 4-0, with Dobbie netting all four and after the break he continued to cause havoc, taking his tally to six following a fine pass from Sam Cato. A bizarre own goal from Nick Carter who tried a 40 yard pass back to Bone made it 7-0 and in the final stages Sam Cato came up with a brace.

Basingstoke Labour Club was also in a free scoring mood, beating newcomers Origin 12-1 at Brighton Hill. The onslaught started in the fourth minute when Mark West scored with a diving header. A penalty taken by Wayne Barlow was followed by further goals from West, Jack Barlow (2), Aaron Johns (2) before Origin scored their lone goal through Luke Mitchell to make it 6-1 at half time. The remaining goals came from Sam White, Seweryn Zajdel, Taylor Palmer, Chris Wait and the last, a header from Jack Barlow to complete his hat trick. Origin had a player sent off with 15 minutes to play.

Overton United B and Winklebury Wizards fought out a 2-2 draw. As the main pitch in Bridge Street was available, this game was switched from Berrydown. I watched this game, not in the rain, but in the pavilion and a draw was just about the right result. The pitch was in excellent condition and congratulations must go to Kevin Ratcliffe, who won the Hampshire FA Grounds man of the Year award last season. George Lagden opened the scoring for Wizards after just four minutes with a deflected free kick. In the 40th Overton equalized when the unfortunate Dom Stevens put into his own net after some confusion with the keeper. Two minutes later a deep ball into the box from the right by Aland Ince caught the keeper off his line and dropped in the far corner, but just on half time Lagden took a low free kick that beat their former keeper Gavin Alexander. The second half was goal less with Dan Gifford very sound at the back for Overton and Kyle Buckland busy in midfield, but really the Wizards sub. Vincent Mundane should have snatched the points in the last five minute when he hit a great chance wide.
AFC Berg had a welcome win, beating Twentyten Reserves 6-2. Ben Clarke broke away to give them the lead after twenty minutes, but chances fell to Dan Hancock and James Brown for the visitors as the half ended 1-0. Twentyten started the second half well and swept into a 2-1 lead by the 55th minute. Hancocks the equalizer and Franklin Spacagna after a Mark Smith shot had hit he bar, he buried the rebound. Kieran Alleyne soon put Berg level and from a penalty put away by Clarke, they took the lead. Jordon Bright then made it 4-2 and as Twentyen fell away Jack Hodge and Daniel Tressler netter a couple more.