Match Report by Karl Hills
Photography by Steve Gridley
The game started fast and in just the third minute of the game, ‘Stoke took the lead. ‘Stoke goalkeeper Simon Grant launched the ball up-field towards Liam Ferdinand. City defender Leadbitter beat Ferdinand to the header, but he could only guide it backwards where it fell to Nnamdi Nwachuku. Nwachuku carried the ball into the home penalty area, skipped past two defenders and took the ball away from a third, before smashing a thunderous finish into the far corner to put the visitors ahead.
The home side hit back almost instantly and in the sixth minute they were level. A free-kick for City was put into the box and Ben Richards-Everton found himself in space to head the ball goalwards, but Grant in the ‘Stoke goal was equal to it and pushed it round the post. The resulting corner was partially cleared by the ‘Stoke defence, before the ball broke to City’s Hanks on the right-hand side of the area. Hanks lofted the ball towards the back post and Richards-Everton rose the highest to nod home the equaliser for the hosts.
The hosts could have taken the lead two minutes later when another corner was whipped in from the right, evading everyone at the front post, before hitting Williams on the knee and flying over the bar as he tried to put the ball in the net. The hosts were causing real problems with set pieces and Richards-Everton met another corner from four yards out but, fortunately for the visitors, headed wide.
After surviving two near-misses ‘Stoke began to drag themselves back into the game and could have taken the lead themselves when a misplaced pass from City keeper Thompson fell at the feet of Brody Peart – but Peart couldn’t quite steer the ball into the corner from a difficult angle.
Both Jack Ball and Rudy Allen had their efforts on goal for ‘Stoke comfortably saved in the final few minutes of the first half, but the half ended on level terms.
HT – Gloucester City 1 – 1 Basingstoke Town
The second half took a while to get going but, when it did, it was the away side that landed the first punch. D’Andre Brown picked up the ball for ‘Stoke outside the City penalty area, drove forward with the ball, and hit a shot that was ferocious but tipped over the bar in an excellent save from Thompson in the City goal. Rudy Allen again tried his luck from range, but it was comfortably saved by the City ‘keeper.
Town were very much in the ascendency and thought they should have had a penalty around the 75th minute mark when it appeared that Ferdinand had been bundled over trying to get on the end of a cross from Peart, who did some excellent work chasing a lost cause to win the ball back and get it into the box for Ferdinand. As the referee waved away appeals the ball broke to Kokoszka – on for the injured Nwachuku – only for Thompson to once again deny Town.
The game sparked back into life and, this time, the hosts had a big opportunity to take the lead. A big header back towards the ‘Stoke goal caught-out the defence and the ball dropped to the City forward who was in on goal. Cue Billy Upton sticking his leg out and making a fantastic last-ditch tackle to send the ball out for a corner.
Both sides were pressing to find the next goal, but it was the home side who once more found themselves behind the Town defence, but the shot was hit straight at the advancing Grant in the ‘Stoke goal and cleared away.
As full-time ticked closer, Town had three great chances to steal all three points. First, Ferdinand’s low effort was deflected wide, and the second came from the resulting corner. The corner was partially cleared before dropping for a ‘Stoke player to rifle it towards the goal, only for it to be blocked on the line by Richards-Everton and gratefully gathered by Thompson in the home goal.
The final clear-cut chance of the game was for the away side as Kokoszka was sent through and cut back onto his right foot, only to see his shot once more smothered by Thompson in the home goal.
FT Gloucester City 1 – 1 Basingstoke Town
A great, battling result for ‘Stoke, maintaining their excellent start to the season and now sitting fourth in the table (ahead of any midweek fixtures), as the push for promotion this campaign continues.
The next game for Basingstoke Town is Poole Town on 9th November at home, which will also be the club’s Remembrance Fixture.