Peter Raynbird reviews the recently played 1st round cup matches

A last minute goal from Dale Bristow saw Basingstoke Athletic FC through to the Quarter Finals , giving his side a 5-4 victory over Sherborne St John FC. It was Sherborne who took a first minute lead when Ibrahim Waheed nipped in to intercept a poor back pass and rounded keeper James Lounton to walk the ball into the net. Dale Bristow headed Athletic level from a Mike Borbery cross and Wade Costello gave them the lead with a well struck 25 yard free kick. It was just before half time when Sherborne drew level, the header by Mukum Limbu from a Sachin Rae cross proving too good for Lounton. The Sherborne defence buckled again soon after the break with Borbery scoring, but Sherborne hit back with two goals from Rae, both on the break to lead 4-3. Ten minutes from time Borbery put away a cross from Matt Button and then came the dramatic winner when just before full time Bristow volleyed home a corner taken by Nathan Read.
The shock result of the day was when lowly placed Division Two side AFC Aldermaston ‘A’ beat second in Division One Hampshire Irons FC 2-1, again the decider coming close to the end. The Aldermaston manager Ben Jones was able to field a full squad for the first time this season and he felt they played well against a more experienced side. It was Irons who took the lead after 15 minutes through James Arnold following a back post cross from Kieran Dent. Irons had most of the play after this, but a fine rearguard performance by the Aldermaston defence with Tom Yates and Paul Mellor both making outstanding performances, managed to hold out for the remainder of the match. Vince Kennedy and Andy Barfoot were both in good form for Aldermaston in the second half and they helped their side to level the tie. The leveler came when Kennedy unselfishly played through to Brad Nicholson who scored. The winner came in the 89th minute when a shot by Nicholson was well saved by Jack Rickard for a corner kick; it was well taken by Nicholson and the towering header from Kevin Flain proved took good for Rickard and saw them through.
Tadley Calleva FC ‘A’ bit the dust when they were knocked out 4-3 by Division Two club Basingstoke United FC. It did not help Tadley when they missed a penalty, awarded for a foul on Kyle Theodore when he was brought down by keeper James Sallows in the 30th minute. Theodore took the spot kick, Sallows saved so it remained goal less at half time. Tadley got their game together and took a two goal lead after the interval. Michael Abbott heading home following a Lee Champion long throw in and Luke Allison with a great volley after a shot by Stephen Burgess was parried by Sallows, for the second. Tom Hartley pulled a goal back from a Jordon James assist and then United equalized through Callum Silcox, following a good ball from Charlie Smith. The Tadley midfield gave the ball away to Charlie Smith who went on a solo run and finished well to see United 3-2 ahead. It was a freak equalizer for Tadley when another long throw from Champion ended up in the net, with neither side claiming a touch. This led to a grandstand final fifteen minutes and it was United who came off the winners. It was Smith picking up a half clearance and crashing in a volley from the edge of the penalty area to win the tie.
There was no slip up by Division One leaders Hook FC who met Bounty United FC and won 5-3. I was at Castle Fields for the game and felt Bounty put up a reasonable performance, although the Division One side looked the better side and deserved their win. It was Bounty who took the lead when Mitchell Stokes picked up a poor clearance and beat the very capable looking new keeper RAF man Chris La Brow. Andy Parker chased through the middle on his own following a long ball over the top to beat the advancing Richard Vinn to put Hook level. At the other end Stokes was unable to beat the keeper in a one on one. Another break down the slope led to Davies scoring Hook’s second from a James Westwood cross and yet another long ball, this time from Will Hill, gave Davies his chance to see Hook 3-1 up at half time. Peter Silvester soon made it 4-1 and in another Hook attack Paul Barton cleared off the line. Bounty began to mount a series of attacks after this and with 15 minutes to play a Stokes pass found Mike Gilham who flicked it into the net to make it 4-2. Soon after this Stokes had a goal disallowed for disputed offside. With seven minutes left to play Vinn brought down Aaron King, a penalty was awarded and well struck by Davies for a 5-2 lead and his hat trick. It was in the 87th when Bounty scored their third. It was Stokes with the finish, his second in the game, from a perfect pass from Andy Darmody.
Twentyten FC had no problems overcoming bottom club Overton United FC ‘A’ with a 3-0 victory at Berrydown. Joe Hill scored all three, his first after ten minutes when Jake Tanner robbed his man and laid on the chance. In the 30th Jordan Wainwright made a run down the left and played a neat pass for Hill to score at the back post and the hat trick was completed when Wainwright squared the ball back for him to beat Ben Pierce again.
Basingstoke Labour Club FC managed to get through with a 7-4 win against Winklebury Wizards FC, although the score line flattered Dan Poulter’s side. Cameron George was in the action again, scoring four times. It was Matt Kelly with the opener following a pass from George. This was in the 7th minute and by half time George had completed his hat trick, Kelly the provider for the next two and Mark Thorpe contributing to his third. A big comeback from Wizards before the break saw them score three times. The first came from a Liam Grainger volley, Scott Large the next following a one two with Dan Costen and Costan converted a penalty kick after Lee Garrett was brought down by keeper Sam White. Soon after the break Labour made it 5-3 through Marik Wisnienski, but in the 60th Lee Garrett put away a cross from Grainger to pull it back to 5-4. George soon scored his fourth from another Kelly assist and the last goal was netted by Kelly, with the final pass from George.
Tron FC disposed of AFC Berg with a 6-0 win at Newfound, with Ben Nicholls on target with four of them. With three members of their regular starting squad suspended following the recent sending offs against Winklebury Wizards FC, Tron were far from full strength, but Berg proved no obstacle. Ben Nicholls scored after four minutes after a Lorne Howard cross was put away in the 4th minute. Nicholls got his next in the 16th set up by full back Darren Hutchins. Stuart Austen with a spectacular overhead kick made it 3-0 and John Ervin made it 4-0 before the break, after a free kick from Richard McCoubrie was parried by keeper Simon Edwards. Nichols completed his hat trick in the 56th from another Howard cross and in the 70th came his fourth and Tron’s sixth when Finley Hall headed down a Howard cross for him to have an easy finish.