Basingstoke & District League Match Reports from Saturday 23rd February, By Peter Raynbird.

The Final of the North Hants Junior Cup is between AFC Aldermaston A and Andover New Street Swifts following the Semi Finals played on Saturday.
Aldermaston A , although having a tough time in Division Two of the Basingstoke League, did well to defeat local rivals Tadley Calleva A 4-3 at home, thanks mainly to a hat trick from Vinney Kennedy. Gary Harper, in the Tadley goal rushed out and the challenge led to a booking and from the free kick Ashley Jones scored direct. Tadley hit back in the 25th with a goal from Bradley Cox, a header from a Jack Jones corner and Cox curled in his second for a 2-1 lead . This was extended when Ellis Theodore netted before half time. to 3-1. Kennedy made it 3-2 early in the second half, his shot fumbled by Harper, who did not have the best of games. He then completed his hat trick to level, but a great chance to regain their lead came when Tadley were awarded a penalty, Cox took the kick and hit the bar. There was 15 minutes to go when the winner came. Tony Johnson with the corner and Kennedy with the header.

Overton United A had a great Semi against Andover New Street Swifts, but in the end were beaten after a penalty shootout. 5-4. Overton had seven veterans in their line-up, including four over 40 years old.
It was Darren Hutchins who gave them the lead after 15 minutes when he picked up a long ball from Siyani Thomas and scored with a brilliant volley. They then held this lead until the 80th minute when a curling shot proved too good for United’s young keeper Matt Lowe and then in added time the visitors scrambled in their second to lead 2-1. The lead did not last long, when a minute later Thomas found Scotty Winterbourne and the scored were level again. This meant straight into a penalty shootout, For Overton, Mark Alexander, Hutchins, Luke Skinner and Winterbourne were successful, but Kenton West hit the post with his, so it was exit for United.

Basingstoke League

Division One.

When Herriard Sports met Silchester Villagers in the Basingstoke A Cup in January, the final score was 10-0 to the Villagers and on Saturday they met again in a Division One match and the same score was repeated. Kyle Theodore only scored a hat trick in the first encounter, but this time he was in red hot form and scored eight of the ten. Making his tally for the season now 23, with the remaining goals coming from Florin Viorel Calancea and Jordon Ingram. It was only 3-0 at half time; all three from Theodore and then a hand injury to the Herriard keeper Matt Watson meant Manager Craig Lewington had to take over, hence the second half onslaught.

Division Two

With Renegades the previous leaders of Division Two leaders having no game, Overton United B take over top spot following their 6-2 win against Basingstoke Athletic. It was Athletic taking the lead after 35 minutes of even play through Josh Dickens, beating the keeper after his first effort was half saved. Five minutes later Bailey Roffey equalised with a corner kick that beat all in the packed six-yard box. and before the break Andy Bullock put |Overton in front after a corner by Olly Parker. A volley from Sami Eldori from a Roffey cross increased their lead in the 55th and Richie Budd made it 4-1 following a corner by Ross Harwood. Roffey headed his second after good play by Steve Caswell and Harwood put away the sixth from a Bullock assist. A late second for Athletic was netted by Keyron Hylton after beating three men.

AFC Berg Reserves had their second win of the season when beating Chineham 4-1 and so moving them four points clear of bottom club AFC Aldermaston A. Chineham had a nightmare time in the first half when conceding four goals in a poor 15 minutes spell. James Tiller-Stevens started it in the 27th minute with a breakaway goal and when the Chineham keeper Nick Tucker suffered a blow to his head, striker Shane West took over and he was beaten with goals from Steve Death, from a Stefan Graham assist, Karl Holbrough with a cross that ended up in the net and Graham with a 25-yard lob. Chineham had a better second half when a shot by Paddy Callahan hit the post and then they pulled a goal back through Tobi Judd after a cut back by Tim Thomson. Two excellent saves by Doug Gray in the 55th and 77th minute, kept Berg at bay in late pressure, but the Berg victory was soured when they had a player sent off after two yellow cards.

Twentyten Reserves had a 5-2 win against Oakridge to move into third position. Dan Hancock headed them into the lead in the early stages from a centre by Austin Feighery. Oakridge then lost their main striker Aaron Johns who suffered a suspected broken arm. In the 44th Jordon Wainwright put away a cross from Hancock for a two-goal interval lead. In the 55th Oakridge came back with a goal, when Taylor Butler scored with an assist by Nathan Bedford and although Twentyten struck again through Joe Osborne, Oakridge responded when Sam Trodd tucked away a through ball from Chris Andrews to make it 3-2. Jake Tanner made it 4-2 after his first effort was blocked and Osborne finished it off with his second after a good run through and rounding keeper Jake Barnes.