Match Report by Karl Hills
Photography by Steve Gridley
Saturday afternoon saw Basingstoke Town back at the Winklebury Football Complex as they welcomed Hanwell Town to RG23, looking to bounce-back from the last-gasp defeat to Poole Town the previous weekend.
Unfortunately, ‘Stoke were left empty handed once more after a game containing seven goals, two penalties, and plenty of cards, as the visitors ran out 4-3 winners. Goals from Jordan Edwards (14), Joseph Waight (51), Dan Carr (81) and Alfie Pendlebury (83) were enough for all three points, with Ben Cook (29), James Clark (56) and Liam Ferdinand (93) responding for the hosts.
‘Stoke started brightly once more and had a glimpse of goal within the first 60 seconds, as a long throw from the left could only be nodded on by a Hanwell defender and the ball dropped to debutant Pele Koussioue, on loan from Chippenham Town, as he tracked the ball from the left, but he couldn’t get his effort on target.
The game was an open one from the get go, with both defences standing firm. However, in the 14th minute, the next clear opening for one of the sides came – and it went the way of the visitors. Jack Ball was deemed to have handled an effort from Jordan Edwards and the referee pointed to the spot. It appeared incredibly harsh, but the decision stood, and Edwards put the ball on the spot and sent Simon Grant the wrong way to give the visitors the lead. (0-1)
Both sides continued to probe, and on the 20th minute mark, the hosts should have been level. Marcus Johnston-Schuster clipped a ball into the danger area, which Samuel Beasant in the Hanwell goal could only parry to the edge of the 6-yard box, and there waiting was Cook – but he could only send his effort wide. But nine minutes later, the ‘Stoke midfielder reprieved himself.
After some neat passing play, Sam Deadfield sent Robbie Gallagher clear on the right-hand side. Gallagher got to the byline and pulled a low cross back, which found Cook around ten yards out. He took a touch and slammed the ball home to pull the game back level. (1-1).
Both Gallagher and Deadfield tested Beasant with efforts from distance, but the Hanwell stopper was equal to both efforts and the sides headed into the break level.
HT Basingstoke Town 1 – 1 Hanwell Town
The visitors got us back underway, but it was ‘Stoke who had the first effort on goal as Deadfield and Gallagher combined again, but Gallagher’s low shot was easily collected by Beasant. Moments later Ferdinand found himself in space just inside the Hanwell penalty area, but Beasant was, once again, equal to his effort.
Despite starting the brighter of the two sides, disaster struck in the 51st minute for the hosts. Grant collected a low shot from Matthew MacKenzie and looked to play out from the back. Grant passed the ball sideways to Captain Billy Upton, who played it back to Grant. Grant then tried to return the ball to Upton, but Waight – who was pressing high – intercepted the return pass and stuck the ball in the empty net. (1-2).
However, ‘Stoke were not behind for long. Straight from the restart they looked dangerous and were rewarded with a penalty after Gallagher was tripped by Harry Seabrook. Clark stepped up and slotted the penalty into the bottom left corner, just evading the reach of Beasant. (2-2)
On the hour mark, the visitors thought they should have had a second penalty when Pendlebury went down under a challenge, but the official waved away appeals. Thirty seconds later, ‘Stoke skipper Upton collected a free-kick from Deadfield out of the air, but saw his effort hit the outside of the left-hand post and bounce out for a goal kick.
That was the last of any real clear-cut chances, until the 81st minute when the visitors took the lead for the third time. Hanwell won a free-kick around 30-yards from goal, which Carr took. He tried to play a low, short delivery into the box, but the ball bounced back to him. He stepped away from Aleks Kokoszka on the edge of the area and rifled a low shot into the bottom corner. (2-3)
The Magpies then scored a fourth goal two minutes later, with Waight this time turning provider. He drilled a low ball into the ‘Stoke 6-yard box and Pendlebury was there to turn the ball home. (2-4)
There were still goals in the game and ‘Stoke continued to press forward, but the Hanwell defence was standing firm – until the 93rd minute when Ferdinand, teed up by Gallagher, stroked the ball home from inside the box to give ‘Stoke fans hope of getting the game level again. (3-4)
‘Stoke had a second penalty appeal waved away by the referee in the dying embers of the game but could not find a way through to get the equaliser.
FT Basingstoke Town 3 – 4 Hanwell Town
This result, combined with other results see ‘Stoke slip to 11th in the League. Next game for ‘Stoke is Taunton Town away, Saturday 1st February 2025, 3pm KO.