Match Report by Karl Hills
Photography by Steve Gridley
Basingstoke Town welcomed Poole Town to the Winklebury Sports Complex on Saturday 9th November, with both sides looking to record their first win in the League since mid-October. Unfortunately for ‘Stoke, it was the visitors who managed to end their winless run as they took all three points.
The visitors were on the front-foot from the get-go, pressing the ‘Stoke players as soon as they got the ball and not allowing them any time on the ball. However, it was the home side who had the first chance. A long ball over the top fell to Liam Ferdinand, who twisted away from two defenders to get his shot away, only for it to roll wide.
The game bounced from end-to-end, with both defences snuffing out any openings for either side, until the 10th minute when Ferdinand sent through D’Andre Brown, who also saw his effort go wide of the mark.
Despite the hosts having the clearest two opportunities of the game so far, it was the visitors who took the lead on 14 minutes. A corner for Poole was headed clear, only for the ball to be put back into the box. The ‘Stoke defence was unable to clear their lines as the ball dropped to the back post and was then drilled back across the face of goal by Jamie Whisken, and former ‘Stoke striker Ezio Touray was there to slot home.
The Dolphins soon found themselves two goals to the good, as Oakley Hanger whipped in a free-kick from the left-hand side, to find Josh Staunton at the back post – and he side-footed past Simon Grant in the ‘Stoke goal.
Brody Peart went close with a free kick for ‘Stoke and Grant pushed a Poole Town effort over the bar, but, in the 43rd minute, it got even worse for the hosts. A ball over the top was partially cleared by the ‘Stoke defence, only for Poole to win the ball back high and be played to Harvey Slade on the wing, who crossed it into the danger area and found Toby Holmes, who pulled away from his marker and smashed the ball home on the turn to give the visitors a three-goal lead.
There was still time left in the half and a glorious opportunity presented itself for ‘Stoke to reduce the deficit. A long free kick from Grant was nodded into Ferdinand’s path by Billy Upton, but the ‘Stoke number 9 could only divert the ball over the bar.
HT – Basingstoke Town 0 – 3 Poole Town
‘Stoke started the second half strong, looking determined to get a foothold in the game, but six minutes in the visitors had a chance to make it four. A ball was hit long by Dolphins ‘keeper Cam Plain up to goal scorer Holmes, who nodded the ball forward before hitting it past the oncoming Grant, but only onto the woodwork – much to the hosts relief.
On the hour mark, ‘Stoke made a triple substitution with Charlie Barlow, Simon Dunn, and Max Smith all coming on to replace Peart, Brown, and Kokoszka. Barlow, making his ‘Stoke debut, gave the hosts a way back into the game just seven minutes later.
Marcus Johnson Schuster latched on to a misplaced pass from the Dolphins and launched the ball into the Poole penalty area. Barlow initially headed the ball back across goal toward Ferdinand, who was tackled as he tried to get the ball out of his feet. The ball kindly rolled into the path of Barlow, who touched the ball home to give ‘Stoke hope of a comeback.
From the restart, ‘Stoke piled on pressure but, despite having most of the possession, they were struggling to break through the Poole defence. Barlow had a half volley superbly tipped over by Plain in the 76th minute and, in the following passage of play, James Clarke put an effort over the bar when teed up by Ferdinand. ‘Stoke were hunting for a second goal and Dunn thought he had another back for the hosts but, once again, Plain was equal to it.
It was very nearly four for the visitors when Clarke was ruled not to be fouled when he was nudged off the ball, but Grant saved well from Poole substitute Rafa Ramos. Ramos had another chance moments later to make it four, when he was sent clear with a ball over the top, but once more he was denied by a great block by Grant.
That was the last clear-cut chance of the game and ‘Stoke will were left to rue some defensive mistakes, while the visitors celebrated their winless run coming to an end.
FT Basingstoke Town 1 – 3 Poole Town