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

Division One
Twentyten retain their one-point lead at the top of Division One following a 4-0 home win over after beating Tadley Calleva A, while Hook, the main challengers for top spot had their match against Herriard Sports cancelled and will be awarded the three points. Craig Lewington, the Herriard manager is experiencing severe injury problems and is hoping after having no match this Saturday, their problems will be solved.

It was a setback for Tadley’s young side when they fell behind after just one minute against Twentyten when Jack Clarke was on the end of a cross from Ryan Lupton, but after that Tadley did well to contain them, although a header by Charlie Hill hit the post, kept it at 1-0. Twentyten soon made it 2-0 early in the second half when Lupton took a square ball from Clarke to convert. Tadley then had a great chance to get back in the game when Fred Ball was through one on one with part time keeper Joe Hill, who later had to be replaced by another outfield player Mickey Davies. This seemed to deflate his team who went 3-0 down. It came after good play by Karl Hanks and Jake Tanner that gave Dan Hancock his first and good play by James Arnold and Joe Osborne, led to Hancock scoring again.

Although AFC Berg ran off clear winners in the end with a 7-2 win, it was Overton who took the lead through Liam Randall after good play by Blaze Stafford and Kyle Buckland. Berg added two more before Luke Skinner pulled it back to 3-2. Overton then lost their main striker Stafford injured and Berg got well on top, with Ashley Elward and Reece Chapman both completing hat tricks and substitute Mitchell Medford the seventh.

The local derby between Silchester Village and AFC Aldermaston Reserves ended in a 2-2, a fair result by all accounts. It was the Villagers who took the lead after nine minutes when a 20-yard shot by Luke McLean was parried and Peter White followed up to net he rebound. They held this slender lead until the 75th minute when Michael Porter took a pass from Chris Allen to level. Aldermaston were awarded a penalty for a foul by keeper Gary Hibbs, the spot kick by Matt Wilkins hit the bar, but Callum Eaton followed up to net for the lead. Silchester pressed and equalised in the 80th minute when Jack Nesbitt scored following a corner kick. They had a great chance for the winner when substitute Aaron Campbell was right through in the 88th and hit the bar with his finishing shot.

Division Two
Renegades won 4- 1 in this top of the table clash at Berrydown. United were not at full strength but had a good first half when crossed over a goal up when in the 40th minute Andrew Bullock took a pass from Sami Eldori and beat the keeper in a one on one. United keeper Rio Blackburn kept them ahead with a fine save but had to retire for the second half when Manager Ross Soper-Dyer took over. It was in the 58th minute when Matt Baker headed home a cross from Ricky Smith to beat him and level and Smith then scored the second from a Langden assist. Ian Ryan was the provider for Langden who volleyed in the third and he netted his second to end any hopes of a comeback. Manager Mark Burchett was particularly pleased with his keeper Dave Purt, who continues to play his part in their early season success.

Oakridge continue their good start with another win, this week it was Basingstoke Athletic they defeated 5-1. It was two players who were previously with Athletic, Aaron Johns and Connor Parker who played a part in the Oakridge win. Sam Mosdell with the cross, a knock down by Johns and the finish in the 35th minute by Sam Trodd and Jake Pratchett then made it 2-0 before half time. Connor Parker played Johns through in the 55th for the third and Trodd added another on the hour. A brief come back from Athletic made it 4-1 with a well struck shot from Tobie Hyde, but Alex Spencer took a pass from Trodd to compete this easy win.

North Warnborough and AFC Berg Reserves fought out a 2-2 draw at North Warnborough. It was Borough on top in the first half when they swept into a two-goal lead. The opener came after 14 minutes when Banica Oprea found Liam Self, he went through on goal but an interception by a Berg defender let to an own goal. Oprea made it two in the 40th with a shot that was too good for the keeper to hold. A powerful 20-yard shot from Dan Trussler sailed over the keeper to reduce the arrears and then in the 75th minute substitute Stefan Graham chased a through ball and got the better of the advancing keeper. Borough missed a golden opportunity when Luke Radcliffe tried to round the keeper instead of shooting and then Liam Self looked to have scored the winner following a corner by Oprea, only for the referee to blow for full time as he met it with his on-target header.

Basingstoke B Cup First round
Twentyten Reserves had a comfortable 4-2 win against Chineham to go through to the last eight of the Basingstoke B Cup, with a hat trick from Jack Hulbert the feature. The game was really resolved in the opening ten minutes when Twentyten went into a 3-0 lead. Jack Hulbert in the 3rd minute quickly followed when Joe Richards netted, and Hulbert then scored again. A 50-yard shot from Tim Manson with the strong wind, beat keeper Adam Burridge as Chineham had a good spell and the 3-1 advantage was held until the 70th minute when Hulbert completed his hat trick after being set up by Carl Pearson. Chineham managed to score again, through Antony Hosey but it proved to be of no avail.