Match Report by Karl Hills
Photography by Steve Gridley
Despite temperatures being well into the negative numbers on Saturday afternoon, Basingstoke Town welcomed Winchester City to the Winklebury Football Complex – less than a month after the reverse fixture saw Town run out 4-2 winners.
City were looking for a measure of revenge against the hosts, while ‘Stoke were hoping to pick up their first 3 points of 2025 – and pick up their first win of the calendar year they did, with goals from Nnamdi Nwachuku and Liam Ferdinand enough to keep the points in Basingstoke.
With some frost still at the Railway End the visitors got the game underway and, in the eighth minute of the game, had the first opportunity when Wright got onto the end of McCormick’s cross – but his head was comfortably gathered by Simon Grant in the ‘Stoke goal. City then found themselves with a second opportunity in as many minutes as Wright latched onto a long throw from Bradshaw, but his shot was hit straight at Grant.
The hosts’ first effort came around the 15-minute mark when a corner was whipped in from the right by Sam Deadfield, and an almighty scramble ensured, but somehow Cairney in the Winchester goal kept the ball out of the net and then it was hooked clear by a defender.
City went on the attack again and IK Hill – who scored both of Winchester’s goals in the reverse fixture – skipped away from Marcus Johnson-Schuster and shot goalwards, only for Grant to superbly tip his effort over the bar.
As the game marched on, both sides were looking for the breakthrough and in the 33rd minute the hosts took the lead. James Clark launched a long ball forward, which was flicked on into Robbie Gallagher’s path by Nwachuku. Gallagher latched onto the flick-on and pulled the ball back onto the edge of the 6-yard box to find Nwachuku arriving, who met the ball with his head and guided the ball into the far corner of Cairney’s goal. (1-0)
Moments later, ‘Stoke then had a golden opportunity to double their lead, as Liam Ferdinand smartly turned a defender and ran in on goal but delayed his shot and Cairney saved. The ball came to Deadfield on the edge of the City penalty area, but his effort was saved by Cairney and the ball was cleared.
As the clocked ticked towards half time, Johnson-Schuster saw his low effort comfortably held by Cairney, whilst at the other end Griggs hit an effort from the edge of the home penalty area that flew narrowly wide, and the last action of the half saw Hill cut in from the right and get his shot away, but it was comfortably held by Grant.
HT Basingstoke Town 1 – 0 Winchester City
The hosts got the second half underway and looked to get a quick second goal when Robbie Gallagher’s low cross hit Cairney, hit a City defender and bounced out for a corner. The following corner was headed over by Gallagher. Seconds after the goal-kick from Cairney, ‘Stoke won the ball in midfield and Ferdinand played a wonderful ball for the top for goalscorer Nwachuku, who outmuscled the defender, but mishit his shot and the ball rolled harmlessly to Cairney.
Not even ten minutes of the second half had passed when ‘Stoke had another opportunity to extend their lead. Billy Upton chipped a ball over the top of the City defence, but Ferdinand could only head wide.
Despite starting the second half slowly, the visitors then had their own chance to get on the scoresheet. A flowing attack, starting from the back, ended with Hill driving to the byline. He pulled the ball back to find Barron arriving on the edge of the area, but he drilled his shot wide of the right-hand post.
That chance was almost immediately followed up with a second, as Caborn dispossessed Clark in the left-back position and drove goalwards before cutting it back for Chalwell, who scuffed his shot and Grant in the ‘Stoke goal easily gathered.
The two chances for the visitors seemed to kick ‘Stoke back into action and first D’Andre Brown had a shot at the near-post saved, before Nwachuku ran onto a ball on the left, stepped inside his defender and rifled goalwards, only to see Cairney equal to his shot once again.
The home side were hunting the second goal to kill off the game and in the 81st minute they got the second goal they deserved. Upton broke on the right wing and put the ball into the box, where Ferdinand met it with his head and guided the ball into the far corner. (2-0)
Winchester had a few efforts in stoppage time to get a goal back, but one went well wide of the goal and the other two were straight at Grant in the ‘Stoke goal.
FT Basingstoke Town 2 – 0 Winchester City
A great result for ‘Stoke after a couple of indifferent results – and the double over Winchester City this season is complete. As a result of this game, ‘Stoke move up to seventh in the league, but with five games happening Tuesday night, this could have changed by the weekend. The next game for Town is Saturday 18th January 2025, away to Poole Town.