Stoke’s first home game of the 2025 saw them welcome Plymouth Parkway to Winklebury Football Complex. The hosts were looking to extend their unbeaten run against the visitors to four, after two wins and a draw in the previous three meetings. Unfortunately for ‘Stoke, that was not to be the case after a late goal from the Plymouth saw them pick up all three points.
There was only one change from the side that drew with Bracknell Town on New Year’s Day as Billy Upton returned to the Starting XI.
It was a bright start by ‘Stoke and they almost took the lead with only 3 minutes played. Robbie Gallagher intercepted a misplaced pass by Plymouth and then fired a shot goalwards but, his effort bounced off the top of the bar.
Stoke’ then had an early penalty shout when Upton was pushed to the ground inside the box, however nothing was given.
The hosts continued to push for the opener and almost found it when Gallagher drove into space and his shot, turned cross, came off the head of Liam Ferdinand, but the striker’s header flew over the bar. Then, Sam Deadfield’s deflected volley was comfortably saved by Ewan Griffiths in the Plymouth goal.
There was a change for ‘Stoke just before half time as Brody Peart went down injured and was replaced by Nnamdi Nwachuku.
HT Basingstoke 0-0 Plymouth Parkway
After a quiet first half, ‘Stoke had the chance to take lead just after the break. Substitute Nwachuku managed to beat his man and found himself through but the forward fired his effort just over the bar.
‘Stoke continued to push and had another chance minutes later when Deadfield’s free kick forced a save out of Griffiths.
Plymouth created their first chance of the game with 56 minutes played when Callum Hall let fly from distance, but his attempt sailed over the bar.
Ten minutes later, ‘Stoke had another chance to take the lead when Luis Le Paih’s through ball caught out the Plymouth defence and played Gallagher in behind. The forward was nudged off balance, forcing him wide, but he still managed to fire a decent effort goalwards that Griffiths had to turn behind for a corner.
The visitors started to grow into the game. Thomas Dean drove forward and sent an inviting ball into the box which Marcus Johnson-Schuster had to clear away, resulting in a corner. Moments later, Plymouth’s Mitchell Beardmore should have given the visitors the lead when he was left unmarked but somehow sliced his shot wide of the target from 12 yards out.
Nwachuku then had a chance to give ‘Stoke the lead when he produced some magic out wide and beat his man but again Griffiths kept the forward out.
With the score level going into the final 10 minutes, the game began to open up and the visitors had a chance to take the lead on the counterattack when Dean was played through but his cross was too heavy.
With two minutes of normal time Nwachuku had a chance to make it 1-0 when he got on the end of Cook corner but unfortunately it was straight at Griffiths.
Heartbreakingly for ‘Stoke, Plymouth took the lead in the first minute of stoppage time. The ball was cut back to Hall who found himself unmarked in the box and comfortably slotted the ball home.
’Stoke had one final chance as Le Paih’s cross found Nwachuku but his volleyed attempt at the back post was high and wide.
FT Basingstoke Town 0-1 Plymouth Parkway
The loss means ‘Stoke drop down to 9th place, with their next fixture coming on Saturday when they welcome Hampshire neighbours Winchester City to the Winklebury Football Complex.