Peter Raynbird reports on the recenly played league matches

Division One.

It was a nine goal thriller at Barlow’s Park where Tadley Calleva FC ‘A’ entertained Hook FC. After leading 3-0, Tadley ended up losing 5-4. Kyle Theodore gave them a 10th minute lead from a penalty kick, following a hand ball from Dave Rees. Theodore scored again in the 23rd from a Luke Allison cross. Michael Abbott headed home a corner by Allison for the third ten minutes later. Peter White then hit the post for Tadley, but Hook hit back with two goals before the interval. Charlie Page got their first from from a Dave White corner and Aaron King their second from a penalty kick. Ashley Perry had to go off injured and Tadley seemed to lose their shape, even so, in the 58th minute a long throw from Lee Champion led to and own goal from Jon Noakes which made the score 4-2 to Tadley. The Hook comeback started and in the 78th minute when Dan Mellors was on the end of another excellent Dave White assist. In the 81st White was again in the action, his cross leading to Jack McKee heading past keeper Gary Harper. The winner came with a few minutes left, Aaron King scoring with a firm header off another cross from Dave White.

It was also a high scoring game at Silchester where hosts DJS Telecom FC lost 5-4 to Basingstoke Athletic FC. This looked a very unlikely victory for Athletic who had only ten men at the start of the match (due to players being stuck in traffic on route to the match) and they were down to nine when Darryl Tyson had to go off with a back injury by the 20th minute. By then they were 2-1 down after Ash Elward had given DJS the lead and after Dale Bristow had equalized, Louis Vickery restored the advantage for DJS. By half time Athletic drew level, Kieran Challis scoring from an Ashley Russell cross. In the second half Athletic were back with a full eleven with Tyson returning to play in goal after receiving lengthy treatment on the sidelines. On the hour Matt Button went on a solo run to put them 3-2 in front. Tobie Hyde made it 4-2 with a diving header and another Russell cross was put away by Bristow to make it 5-2. A late revival by DJS saw Vickery score again and when Harry Rudge made it 5-4 with ten minutes left it was Athletic who came out fighting, dug deep and defended well in order to hold on to their slender advantage.

Basingstoke Labour Club FC came away from Berrydown with a 4-0 victory over Overton United FC’A’, with all four goals netted by inform striker Cameron George. Overton fielded a very young side, including three sixteen year olds. They did well to hold their more experienced opponents for most of the first half, but Mark Thorpe’s cross was finished by George to gibe Labour a 1-0 lead at the break. Michael Burry fouled George in the box in the 60th minute and from the resulting penalty George netted his second. Overton faded and George soon completed his hat trick following a pass from Josh Bundock. The fourth came late in the game, with the deflected shot from George giving keeper Ben Pearce no chance.

Division Two.

Bounty United FC proved too good for Basingstoke Athletic FC Reserves, by beating them 6-2. Matt King gave them a tenth minute lead from a Mitchell Stokes centre and Pawal Derbot scored their second soon after. Matt Stillwell pulled it back to 2-1, but the rest of the half belonged to Bounty. Mitchell Stokes scoring the third from an Andy Darmody cross and Darmody heading home a Derbot chip. Stokes scored again with a nice left footed finish to see them 5-1 up at the break. Bounty were still in control duirn the second half ans Derbot scored again to make it 6-1, before Stillwell netted his second for Athletic.

Overton United FC ‘B’ retain second spot in the table after beating Winklebury Wizards FC 1-0. United Manager Peter Broom was happy with the performance and result and felt his team had the edge in a very tight game. There was little goalmouth action from either side until the 75th minute when Overton scored the decider. Michael Fuller with the through ball, which got picked up by Rob Perrett; and although his first effort was parried by Gavin Alexander in the Winklebury goal, he followed up to slip the ball past the keeper. Wizards almost picked up a point in the late stages when a shot from Ben Clarke his hit the post.

Hook FC Reserves could not raise enough players to meet AFC Berg,