Match Report by Karl Hills
Photography by Steve Gridley
After back-to-back draws against two of the top three teams, Basingstoke Town made the short trip to Bulpit Lane in Berkshire, to face an in-form Hungerford Town in a mid-table clash, hoping to build on recent results.
However, it was the hosts who took all three points, with a Louis McGrory penalty (7) and Luke Softley header (74) scoring for the hosts, while ‘Stoke got a late consolation via a James Clark penalty (90+7).
‘Stoke got the game underway and won an early free-kick in a dangerous area as Ben Cook was fouled. Sam Deadfield stepped up, but the hosts’ wall did its job, and they launched a counterattack, that ended with Simon Grant easily collecting a cross from the right.
However, six minutes in, the hosts were awarded a penalty when Jack Ball was adjudged to have brought down Jose Marquez. Up stepped McGrory, who drilled the ball down the middle to give Hungerford the lead (1-0)
The hosts went close to doubling their lead in the 15th minute when Jordan Rose met a corner with his head, but Grant palmed the effort away. Hungerford continued to push, with this time Marquez taking aim as a corner was cleared, but his effort was way over the bar.
‘Stoke were being made to work hard, with the Hungerford defence holding strong. The visitors had a slight opening when a long ball and a flick from Liam Ferdinand caused some confusion between the host defence and ‘keeper Redman Evans, but Evans recovered quickly to clear the ball as both Ferdinand and Jaden Brissett lurked.
Just before the half-hour mark, the hosts went close once more. Kyle Tooze latched onto a ball over the top and raced into the penalty area, rounding the oncoming Grant and making it to the byline, before pulling the ball across goal. Luckily for ‘Stoke, Jack Ball was covering and smashed the ball clear.
The pitch was not in the best condition, which made getting the ball down and playing passing football difficult for both sides – as point proven when, after a series of headers, Marquez was once more set away down the right and he squared it to Tooze. However, a couple of bobbles took the pace off the ball and Tooze saw his effort comfortably saved by Grant.
‘Stoke did manage to have an effort on goal not long before the break. Cook’s effort from the edge of the area was blocked and, after the ball was recycled to Clark out wide, Scott Armsworth rose to meet his cross but could only guide his header over the bar.
There were no further significant chances, and the hosts headed into the break a goal to the good.
HT Hungerford Town 1 – 0 Basingstoke Town
‘Stoke came out for the second half on the front foot and should have been level within 90 seconds of the restart. Robbie Gallagher was played in down the right flank by Deadfield. He got himself some space and found Ferdinand on the edge of the six-yard box – but he got his connection all wrong and Evans gratefully collected with ease.
The hosts then had two chances to further their lead, within 30 seconds of each other. First, a quick free-kick found former ‘Stoke player Curtis Angell racing away down the left, and he found space to put a ball across the face of goal that found Marquez, but he could only put the ball over the bar from three-yards out. This was then followed up by Marquez beating the ‘Stoke offside trap – but his shot was pushed away by Grant and the rebound headed back to the ‘Stoke stopper.
Hungerford were creating the better of the chances, one that was easily gathered by Grant and another that was flashed wide from range, but in the 74th minute, they eventually doubled their lead.
It was Marquez again with the effort, this time from a free-kick around 25-yards out, but Grant tipped his shot round the post. From the resulting corner, Softley rose highest to nod home and double the hosts’ lead. (2-0)
‘Stoke were fighting hard to find a way back into the game but just could not break through the resolute home defence. The hosts nearly took a further lead, first through Jordon Ibe, whose free-kick was tipped onto the bar by Grant and then Ibe sent through Joe Beardwell, but Grant saved well.
‘Stoke did manage to get one back, via a penalty in the 96th minute. Skipper Billy Upton was upended in the box, chasing a loose touch from a Hungerford defender, and up stepped James Clark, who found the back of the net. (2-1)
Within a minute of the restart from the goal, the referee blew for full-time.
FT Hungerford Town 2 – 1 Basingstoke Town
A disappointing result for ‘Stoke, which now sees them in 14th in the league. The next game for them is at the Winklebury Football Complex on 22nd February 2025 as they host playoff chasing Havant and Waterlooville. – 3pm KO.