Basingstoke & District Saturday League Match Reports

Division One

At this stage of the season it is very difficult to see who will emerge Champions and although Basingstoke Royals hold a two point lead at the top of Division One following a 1-1 draw with D.C.U.K. there is four clubs just two points adrift after the surprise 2-1 defeat Hook suffered against Twentyten. In the 15th minute a long clearance kick from keeper Darren Collins had centre back Richard Willcock in trouble and Stuart Austen took advantage to score with a powerful volley. It was always a tight game with the equalizer coming in the 80th minute. Ama Bhuller pulled back a good ball for Craig Barker whose shot proved too hot for the keeper.

A rare defeat for Hook who found Twentyten in good form and went home beat 2-1. Without either of their goalkeepers available outfield player Dan Mellors took over and within five minutes he was picking the ball out of the net. He did well to block the first shot from James Arnold, but unable to keep out the second attempt. The first half ended 1-0, but after the break Danny Vallance hit the post for Twentyten before they doubled their advantage in the 70th. Good play by Joe Osborne and Vallance led to a one two with Arnold who scored his second. Hook had plenty of the ball as they pushed up, but their only reply came from substitute James Westwood, a superb volley following a cross from Morgan Davies.

Basingstoke Athletic stays bottom of the table and still looking for their first points of the season. Their latest defeat was against AFC Aldermaston Reserves, just beaten 1-0. Athletic looked on top for much of the first half but could not finish off, their beat effort from Kieran Challis with a looping shot just over the bar. Aldermaston went in front in the 56th minute when Scott Perkins beat new goalkeeper James Kelly from a Steve Francis assist, the keeper but did well did well after this when he tipped a goal bound shot from Matt Rayner over the bar. Matt Desay in the Aldermaston, with a fine save in the last minute kept their one goal advantage..

Previous leaders Basingstoke United lost again, this week well beaten 4-0 away to Tadley Calleva A. They fell behind in the 4th minute when Kye Theodore broke through, his shot was beaten out by keeper James Sallows, but Stephen Burgess had followed up and put away the rebound. In the 15th Burgess was fouled just outside the box and from the free kick awarded Theodore bent it round the wall for a two goal advantage. It was just before half time when Tadley scored their third. Luke Alliston with the centre flicked on by Michael Abbott and finished off by Theodore. United improved after this and twice hit the woodwork through Tom Hartley and Reese Chapman and Jay Stevens skied a good chance over the bar as they attacked. It was all in vane and in the last minutes Theodore completed his hat trick.. United has a chance of revenge this week when the two meet in the North Hants May Cup.

Division Two

Herriard Sports returns to the top of Division two after an easy 4-0 win against Longdog Soldiers who were only saved from a very heavy defeat by their excellent goalkeeper Jake Barnes. It was 4-0 in the end, with the opener coming in the 10th minute. Chris Dobbie sent over a cross, it found Sam Cato; his effort was parried by Barnes and Sam Weber finishing it off. In the 12th a strong solo run and fine finish from Cato made it 2-0 and only good saves by Barnes kept it to two until the 48th minute when Cato out jumped his marker from a Chris Smith cross to see them 3-0 ahead. The fourth came in the 60th when Dobbie put away a cross from Adam Nelson.

Both Basingstoke Labour Club and Winklebury Wizards have headed the table this season and fought out a 3-3 draw at Brighton Hill. It was an own goal, a shot by Matt Kelly deflecting in off Josh Craig for the Labour opener. George Langden equalized and Scott Large then put Wizards ahead. A throw in was flicked on by Taylor Douglas for Seweryn Zajdel to put Labour in front again, but Connor Stratton came up with the late goal to earn a point for Wizards..

Chineham are newcomers to the Saturday League this season and against AFC Berg put on a decent performance, but went down 2-1. Berg went in front after 16 minutes when Kieran Alleyne headed home corner and in the 35th minute they extended their lead through Ashley Burchett. Chineham came back in the 55th with a header from Luke Russell from a Hugo Carlos free kick. Berg would have scored a couple more but for good goalkeeping from John Hamill.

AFC Aldermaston A managed a 1-0 win against Twentyten Reserves. The lone goal coming in the 22nd minute when Nathan Price went on a good run and his final pass fell to Nick Carter who made no mistake with a cool finish.

Origin suffered another defeat; this week beaten 6-1 by Overton United B. Jamie Smith put Overton 2-0 ahead by the 32nd minute and went on to complete a straight hat trick just before he break from Tita Martins pass Richard Budd then scored a brace and Andy Barfoot put away a corner taken by Armond Ince for the sixth. McKenzie Collins netted the lone goal from Origin.