Basingstoke & District League Match Reports from Saturday 13th April, By Peter Raynbird.

Division One

With just two weeks left until the end of the season, it is a three-horse race for the Division One title, between Twentyten, Silchester Village and AFC Berg.
Twentyten have been favourites to take the Division One title but had a setback on Saturday when they were beaten 3-2 by Silchester Village at the War Memorial Park. Silchester now takes over top spot and for their final game, has an easy looking match against bottom of the table Overton United A. Twentyten can still win the title however if they take maximum points from their final two matches. This will not be easy, as they face AFC Berg on Saturday at Brighton Hill and their other fixture is away to Tadley Calleva A while AFC Berg has a difficult visit to Hook in their last game.
Twentyten did take the lead in the 21st. minute when a corner taken by Karl Hanks proved too good for keeper Aiden Hudson to keep out. They had other chances when Dan Hancock was through one on one but failed to net and both Ryan Lupton and Jack Clarke failed when well placed. It was in the 27th minute when Silchester drew level when Jason Graham chased a ball over the top and lobed keeper Darren Gary. In the 53rd minute Gary rushed out to clear, took out Graham in the process and from the spot kick Peter White converted. The game was held up when the referee had problems on the touchline when the Silchester manager Gary Hibbs and a spectator were ordered off. It was in the 70th minute when it became 3-1 when a 25-yard free kick from Graham flew into the net. Twentyten replied within two minutes with a Jake Tanner header and only a superb save by keeper Hudson stopped a Lucas Pickett header from a Cox cross, stopped Twentyten salvaging a vital point.

Hook came away from Aldermaston Reserve with a 3-1 win. A curling shot by Ismael Alvarez in the 35th minute gave them the lead with a 20-yard shot and the home keeper was beaten again in the 55th when local player Tom Gouge scored with a long-range shot. Aldermaston made a brief comeback when Michael Porter chipped the keeper after a decent ball from Shane Small, but Hook scored their third in the 75th when Dan Alliston followed up net after a superb save from keeper Kevin Butcher stopped the first effort.

Division Two

If AFC Aldermaston A had shown their recent form at the beginning of the season, they would have been in for honours instead of mid-able. Their latest win, 3-2 away to Chineham means they have four straight victories under their belts. They took the lead after five minutes and in the 40th they went 2-0 ahead and a third came in the 68th with Chineham not in sight. In the 74th however a fine solo run by Paddy Callahan, past a couple players and then beat the keeper gave them hope and two minute later Callahan repeated it from Mark Hanks centre. Although they pressed until the end, no further danger to the Aldermaston goal. The Aldermaston scorers were Vinny Kennedy, Luke Dowling and Tony Johnson.


A hat trick from Andy Bullock keeps Overton United B on track for the Division Two title after beating Twentyten Reserves 7-2 and three points against Chineham in their final match on 27th April in their final match will ensure the title, unless some unrealistic double figure score by promoted Renegades against Oakridge this Saturday. Bullock gave them the early lead, but Chineham hit back to level in the 30th after a free kick taken by Warren Hill was helped in by Jordon Wainwright for Olly Knox to net. By half time Overton went in 3-1 ahead, Ross Harwood scoring after a Steve Caswell assist and Bullock from a pass by Olly Parker. After the break Tottman made it 4-1 from a Harwood pass and then laid on the fifth for Bailey Roffey. Chineham pulled it back to 5-2 when a Wainwright cross was finished off by Josh Bromley, but Overton were the stronger finishers and it was a Roffey header from a Jim Wheeler cross and finally Ross Soper-Dyer found Bullock with his centre and Bullock netted his third and his 27th goal of the season.

The match between Oakridge and North Warnborough had to be abandoned in the 30th minute following a serious looking shoulder injury to Tom Perry when Borough led 3-0. The match will now be replayed.

The North Hants May Cup Final between Broughton and Silchester Village, due to be played on the Andover New Street Ground last Tuesday, was not played due to a waterlogged pitch. It will be put back on later in the month.