Match Report by Karl Hills
Photography by Steve Gridley
Basingstoke Town were back in action at Winklebury Football Complex on Tuesday night as they welcomed local neighbours Andover New Street in the semi-final of the North Hampshire Cup. ‘Stoke looking to progress to the final once again and defend their trophy, Andover looking to cause an upset ahead of their massive FA Vase Quarter-Final at the weekend – and it was the hosts who advanced once more to the final.
A brace from Pele Koussioue (5’, 26’) and a 44th minute goal from Jaden Brissett were enough to see ‘Stoke through to their fifth cup final in four years.
The visitors got the game underway, but after a quick passing move, ‘Stoke took the lead inside four minutes. After winning the ball back, James Dickson received the ball on the halfway line and played it forward towards George Reid. Reid deftly flicked the ball into the path of Koussioue, who then raced away from the New Street defence and slotted the ball into the far corner. (1-0)
‘Stoke were looking to set the pace in the game, and three minutes later could have doubled their lead, but Brissett saw his shot saved well by Fredericks in the Andover goal.
Despite ‘Stoke having most of the ball in the opening ten minutes, Andover New Street did fashion a chance on the tenth minute mark, but the shot was comfortably high and wide of Simon Grant’s goal.
‘Stoke continued to press forward, looking to grab the second goal and, after great work from Ben Cook on the left, Brissett played the ball to Koussioue, whose effort from the edge of the area was wide of the left-hand post.
But just three minutes later the hosts, and Koussioue, doubled their goals for the night. Some great play down the left allowed Reid to drive into the New Street penalty area and saw him pull the ball back to Koussioue, who side-footed the ball into the bottom right-hand corner. (2-0)
‘Stoke weren’t done yet. As the half hour mark approached, Brissett latched onto a heavy defensive touch and raced in on goal, but his effort was once again well saved by Fredricks, and the ball went out for a corner to the hosts – which New Street managed to clear away.
The visitors didn’t let the hosts have it all their own way, although the next two attacks they had – both a shot and a deep cross – drifted out of play for a goal kick.
In the 44th minute, ‘Stoke got their third goal of the game. Brissett and Reid pressed the visiting defence as they tried to play out from the back. Brissett dispossessed a defender, and the ball fell to Reid, who raced through and slotted the ball back across to Brissett, who tapped into the empty net. Third assist of the night for Reid, third goal of the night for ‘Stoke. (3-0)
HT Basingstoke Town 3 – 0 Andover New Street
‘Stoke got the second half underway, and despite a long-range effort from ‘Stoke that went high and wide, it was the visitors who went closest to scoring early on in the second half. A corner from the left came in and was cleared to the edge of the area by the ‘Stoke defence, but the side-footed effort from the edge of the area was wide of Grant’s right-hand post.
Brissett then very nearly played provider for Reid as he swung a deep cross into the back post, but Reid’s diving header was saved by Fredericks.
Ten minutes into the second half, the hosts thought they had their fourth of the evening, when Cook deftly chipped the ball into the top corner – however the linesman adjudged Brissett to be offside in the build-up, and the goal was chalked off.
With substitutions for both sides, the game began to slow down a little – with Cook having an effort deflected wide and then a chip from within the New Street area just dipping over the bar.
Following this, Andover New Street had their best two chances of the game. The first, a shot from the edge of the area by Williams after being sent through by a flick on, was well saved by Grant. From the resulting corner, Herbert had a shot from just inside the area, that Grant was once more equal to and saved well.
These were the last clear-cut, meaningful chances of the game and ‘Stoke ran out 3-0 winners.
FT Basingstoke Town 3 – 0 Andover New Street
‘Stoke progress to their fifth final in four years, and will be facing Romsey Town, for the third time in three years, in the NHDFA Saturday Senior Cup final. The final will be played on 6th May 2025 at the home of Andover New Street – Foxcotte Park – with a 7.45pm KO.