Basingstoke & District Saturday League Match Reports

Hampshire Junior A Cup Quarter Final
Hook played their Hampshire A Cup Quarter Final on the all weather pitch at Queen Mary’s college and were well beaten 7-2 by Southampton League visitors Compton.
We have no excuses said Dave Morris after the defeat, most of our players are used to training on these type of pitches, but in the end we were beaten by a better team. Hook competed until the 30th minute when they conceded a contentious penalty and by half time keeper Greg Archer was beaten twice before in the 44th minute Dave White cut a good ball back for Dan Mouradian to make it 3-1. Their hopes were raised again in the 55th when Mouradian scored again, White with the corner kick that led to the goal. Strong calls for a penalty when Tom Davies was turned down and this led to a breakaway where a free kick was given and Compton made it 4-2. After this Compton dominated the game and besides scoring another three goals, they also hit the bar three times. Hook still has plenty of silverware to play for, as they are still involved in the North Hants May Cup, Peter Raynbird cup and the Basingstoke A Cup.
Hampshire Junior B Cup Semi Finals
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, the pitches at Brighton Hill stood idle as the Council had called all of their “waterlogged” pitches off on Friday and this meant the two Hampshire B Cup Semi Finals between Labour Club and Overton United B and the Winklebury Wizards and AFC Berg, had to be postponed until this Saturday.
Basingstoke Satiurday League
Division One
The pitch at Old Basing was declared fit for play, for DC UK v Basingstoke Athletic. The result was really no surprise as Basingstoke Athletic are bottom of the table and lost 6-0 against the same team in the North Hants Cup the previous week, but the final score line was.. Athletic had just the bare eleven and had their centre back Lee O’Grady in goal and the defence was bolstered by Ryan Evans moving back along with Chris Chaplin and they gave the home side few opportunities and held out until the 20th minute. Ben Nicholls was the scorer after being put through by Harry Rudge. It became 2-0 when a cross from Nicholls led to a Finley Hall header deflecting in off Ryan Evans. Athletic then went down to ten men after James Lounton had to go off with a knee injury, but they broke away in the 55th minute and following good play by Nathan Read, Matt Dean scored to make it 2-1. In the 80th minute DC increased their lead when Chaplin was adjudged to have fouled Hall and Nicholls put away the spot kick, although O’Grady did well to get a hand to it. The depleted Athletic never gave up the chase and were rewarded when Read was brought down in the box and Kieran Challis scored from the resulting penalty. No further scares for DC who had chances through Jamie Ballantyne, Lorne Howard and Stuart Austen, but this week their efforts were off target.
Division Two
Martin Bishop the Herriard stalwart was out on the pitch early on Saturday morning ensuring their Division Two match against AFC Aldermaston A would take place. His efforts were rewarded when his team won 4-2 and so keeping their 100% league record and retaining top spot in the table. They fell behind however in the 28th minute when a shot rebounded off the post and allowed Amandeep Phandi to have an easy tap in. Sam Weber went on a dazzling 40 yard run, riding several attempts to stop him and equalized. in the 40th. Weber then hit the post and Simon Jane had a good chance but shot wide, before they regained the lead in the 44th minute. A good ball from Craig Hine sent Sam Cato through; his cross fell to Chris Dobbie to see Herriard 2-1up at the break. In the 55th minute the lead was extended when a low shot from Dobbie from a Weber centre, proved too good for the keeper. .In the 65th a run from Jane down the left ended with Dobbie completing his hat trick and so taking his tally to 31 for the season. Aldermaston rallied and when Jon Rooney beat keeper Dave Purt with a 25 yard rocket, the visitors had a strong finishing fifteen minutes when the Herriard defence stood firm.