Match report by Jake Hastings, photography by Steve Gridley.
After Thursday’s draw to Marlow, ‘Stoke travelled south to Dorchester Town as they looked to extend their unbeaten run to four. Unfortunately that was not to be the case as ‘Stoke conceded two late goals, which saw them fall to a 3-2 defeat.
Scott Armsworth, on dual-registration with Uxbridge, returned to the matchday squad as well as Sam Deadfield who returned to the starting XI after missing the Boxing Day fixture against Marlow. Jonny Efedje also made a return to the squad.
The first chance of the game fell to the home side as Olaf Koszela’s effort was saved by Simon Grant, but the ‘Stoke keeper could only parry the ball into the path of Harry Hutchinson. However, he somehow missed the target from six yards out.
Minutes later ‘Stoke had their first opportunity. Liam Ferdinand found Rudy Allen just on the edge of the box, who curled the ball towards the back post but couldn’t find anyone.
With 31 minutes played Dorchester opened the scoring when Koszela’s cross found Luke Pardoe at the back post, whose diving header beat Simon Grant at the near post.
Despite going behind, ‘Stoke pushed for an equaliser. Allen’s cross was turned behind for a corner, with the resulting corner forcing a save from Gerard Benfield in the Dorchester net.
HT Dorchester Town 1-0 Basingstoke Town
Going into the second half, ‘Stoke kept searching for an equaliser and found it with 55 minutes played. After pressing Jack Dickson, Robbie Gallagher won the ball back and found Ferdinand whose effort hit the upright and rebounded to Luis Le Paih, who smashed the ball home.
Grant was forced into action for the first time in the second half when Luke Pardoe cut inside and fired his shot goalwards but the ‘Stoke keeper saved his effort comfortably.
Moments later, ‘Stoke took the lead when Allen found substitute Brody Peart whose low-driven cross was turned into the Dickson’s own net, making it 2-1 to the visitors in the 60th minute.
Dorchester looked for a way back into the game as Shaquille Gwengwe was played through on goal, but the on-rushing Grant closed the forward down, making himself big and denying the forward.
‘Stoke were looking to wrap up the game and had the chance to when Peart eased his way past multiple Dorchester players and let fly from outside the box, however his long range strike was saved by Benfield.
In the final two minutes of normal time, the home side were awarded a controversial penalty as Grant was adjudged to have pushed over Gwengwe. With the linesman flagging for a foul, Koszela made no mistake from the spot and smashed his penalty down the middle.
Agonisingly for ‘Stoke, Dorchester then took the lead five minutes into added time as Dickson worked his way into the box and found substitute Wayne Robinson who managed to sneak his header in at the near post making it 3-2.
FT Dorchester Town 3-2 Basingstoke Town
The loss means ‘Stoke drop down to 9th place, with their next fixture coming on New Year’s Day when they face a short trip to Bracknell Town.