Basingstoke & District Saturday League Match Reports

Division One
The disappointing news in the Basingstoke Saturday league is that Basingstoke United has withdrawn from the league. A league meeting held on Thursday, it was decided that due to the fact they have not completed 75% of their fixtures, their record would expunged. This has of course made a difference to the Division One table, with Twentyten the main club to benefit with the alterations. One club to lose out are Basingstoke Athletic A few weeks ago they were awarded the cancelled game against United, their only win of the season and losing these three points sends them back to bottom spot.
Twentyten lengthened their lead at the table to six points after beating Basingstoke Royals 2-0. Royals were favourites to take the title for much of the season, but at Bramley Alan Spacagna’s side ran off winners. Royals had the better of play until in the 30th minute when a shot from Jack Tanner hit the bar and it led to Carl Pearson’s volley beating the keeper. Royals forced ten corners in all and it was anyone’s game until Twentyten scored their second inn the 70th minute. Tanner played through to James Arnold and his cross was met by Tanner who scored with a shot in off the post. Ben Dillon was right through for Royals, but keeper Harry Nash saved in a one on one and although they hit the post, good saves by Nash foiled their late rally. The leaders were well served by defenders Alex Blackall, Ben Osborne and Charlie Hill.

Division Two.

After picking up just one point from their last three matches, Basingstoke Labour Club came good against Twentyten Reserves, winning 6-0. The visitors had Manager Graham Jenkins in goal, with their two regulars not available and they held out until the 25th minute when he could not hold a shot from Paul Gadson and the rebound spilled to Mark Thorpe who netted. They remained just one goal ahead until the 60th minute when Aaron Johns rose high to head home a cross from Jack Barlow. The third came five minutes later when substitute Matt Kelly scored after a pass from Josh Dickens. The return of James McCallion has strengthened the Labour midfield and he made it 4-0 with a rocket shot from well outside the penalty area. Wayne Barlow began to show his class with two late goals. The first a chip from a Kelly assist and finally he headed past Jenkins after received a good ball from his son Jack.

Longdog Soldiers had their only win of the season back in December when they defeated Chineham 2-0 and they completed the double by beating them again, this time winning 3-1. Nathan Bedford gave them a 6th minute lead, with the assist from Tyron Payne.. In the 12th Chineham equalised in , a nice volley from Shane West and West forced a good save in the 18th. Both Chris Andrews and Mark White impressed in midfield for Soldiers as it remained just 1-1 until the 65th minute Terry Dingley then curled his neat free kick round the wall. Chineham made changes and put on some pressure after this and Ben Cronin forced fine save with a tip over the bar and Anthony Russell saw his 30 yard shot whistle just over the bar. The third goal for Soldiers came a minute from time when Sam Trodd scored with an angled shot.

Peter Raynbird Cup Semi Final

D.C.U.K. move through to the final of the Peter Raynbird Cup after beating Hook in a very close game at the King George V playing Fields. They now await the result of the Bounty United versus Basingstoke Athletic to see who they will meet in the Final on 8th April. The first half was goalless with little goal mouth action, the one thing of note was the booking of Pete Silvester and this was to have a big impact on the game, for he was sent off for a second yellow card in the second half. A very good save from the Hook keeper Greg Archer from Ben Nicholls was the closest in that half. Before he scored for Hook, Dan Mellors hit an easy chance over the bar, but in the 60th he received a good pass from Dan Mouradian, placed his shot past the keeper and Hook were in front. Sam Morgan then hit the bar following a corner taken by Morgan Davies as Hook looked good. Yellow cards were flashed frequently after this and one was for Silvester after kicking the ball at Nicholls when he was on the ground, the send off had a big effect on the game with twenty minutes to play. Barker was adjudged to have brought down Nicholls in the box, a penalty was awarded and Nicholls put the spot kick away to level. Findley Hall, who came on as sub caused plenty of problems as DC attacked and they came up with a late winner. It was Harry Rudge with spade work and Nicholls with the finish.

Bounty United saw off Division Two AFC Berg in the Quarter Final of the Peter Raynbird Cup to earn the cricketers a Semi Final tie against Basingstoke Athletic who they will meet this Saturday at the same venue. 5-2 was the final result and it was Chris Hamilton who has made only two previous appearances due to injury and he came up with the goods by scoring a hat trick. His team were trailing 1-0 after an early goal scored by Lee Neal, but Hamilton equalised in the 30th after playing a neat one two with Andy Neal. Bounty came back strongly and after two quick goals from Andy Neal they led 3-1 up at half time. Early in the second half Berg came back when Carlos Gonzalez scored from the penalty kick, given away by Jordon Willis. It was a tight game until match winner Chris Hamilton came up with two late goals on the break.

Basingstoke B Cup Semi Final.

There was no improvement on the Herriard pitch from the previous week when their Basingstoke B Cup Semi Final was abandoned at half time and was postponed It is back on again this Saturday.


Basingstoke A Cup Final
On Saturday evening the first of the local cup finals is being played at the Winklebury Football Complex on Saturday evening kick off 6.30 pm. The two Finalists are Tadley Calleva and Hook, both long established clubs in the league and it is expected to be a close affair. Hook having won this cup for the past two seasons will be looking to make it a hat trick and might have the edge. Tadley have lost only two matches, one was against Hook, but in their striker Kye Theodore, they have match winner with 32 goals scored this season. Tadley had a bye in the first round, beat the current league leaders 5-1 in the Quarter Finals and a very impressive 4-3 win against the fancied D.C.U.K. in the Quarter Final against DCUK. Hook defeated Bounty United 7-1. Basingstoke Royals 3-1 and Basingstoke United 5-1 in the Semi Finals.