Basingstoke & District League Match Reports from Sunday 7th October, By Tony Spencer.

Local sides fared well in the Hampshire Sunday Intermediate Cup round 1, writes Tony Spencer. Soldiers Return entertained Darby Green & Potley but found themselves 0-2 down at half-time, sucker-punched by two headers from long throws. Early in the second half, Soldiers scored three goals in five minutes, with John Uezzell set up by Freddie Cloke for the opener, before Craig Williamson racked up four goal, his first from a rebound, then a header from another Cloke cross, a 1-on-1 with keeper, and finally a lob and finish into an empty net, to complete a 5-2 return for Soldiers.

Team FC were dominated by Tadley Tigers, with Charlie Saunders netting after five minutes. In the second half Tigers went 0-3 up with Liam Yelland and Liam Belcher strikes, but two goals conceded at 2-3 as Tigers tired, which had them hanging on at the end.

Chineham travelled to Alton in the Aldershot & Camberley League and, after a 1-1 draw in normal time, earned in a defensive masterclass against a very attacking Alton team, had to resort to a tight penalty shoot-out. Chineham drew first blood, when Adam N’Diti played an inch perfect early cross to Kieran Alleyne, who finished with aplomb, the only goal of the half. In the second half Alton’s pressure was held off by stalwart defending, but Alton equalised after a passing error, the ball tucked away by the Alton winger. Jake Ashton scored the winning penalty in a dramatic 4-5 shoot-out.

Bramley United travelled to Andover Central and were 6 goals up without reply at the break, through Les Wood and Stuart Denny braces, Ben Squibb and an own goal, which allowed them to cruise with a tight ship in the second half.

Republic of Chineham went through to round 2 in a walkover as Sahara UK dropped out.

Athletico QC took a 1-0 lead in the Hampshire Sunday Junior Cup round 1, but Kempshott levelled before half time through striker Jack Sedgwick, 1-1. Kempshott edged ahead with a 30-yard free kick by Luke Ambrose lobbing the keeper. QC replied from a free kick in their own half, lobbing Charlie James in the Kempshott goal for 2-2. Two more Kempshott goals completed Jack Sedgwick's hat-trick, before Sedgwick set up Matt Osbourne to make it 5-2. Substitute striker Connor Genovese scored with his first touch to kill the game off at 6-2, with a final own goal after a wayward header from Kempshott captain Jordan Clear was turned in by a defender, 2-7.

AFC Basing beat Shallow End 7-2, goals from Kanye Samuel, Callum Silcox and 5 from Matt Kelly

Basingstoke Saints were a goal up at the interval in an evenly matched tie away at AFC Bowenhurst from Fleet. Luke Charlton set up Liam James to score. Saints were 2-1 down 10 minutes into the second half, but a chip from Danny Manners on the left was headed in by James to level. Then, with 2 minutes to go, Adam Butler's half volley settled the tie 2-3.

Great performance from AFC Laarsens, who dominated the home side Darby Green & Potley Reserves from start to finish, keeping a clean sheet. Laarsens got off to a great start with Myles Englefield crossing to Dan Bloma, who smashed home a volley 0-1. Englefield added a second scoring direct from a corner. The third was another through pass from Englefield finished well by Jubril Borishade. Bloma added his second and Laarsens' 4th late in the second half after Danny Costen squared the ball.

Chineham Reserves travelled to Snow Goose of the Camberley & Aldershot League, winning 3-15.

There were a couple of Division 2 matches with New Park Rangers going top after a 2-1 win over Chineham Cavaliers. After a scrappy goalless first half of missed chances, Joe Hode put the hosts ahead on the hour mark and Jonny Rae doubled the lead on 75 minutes. Cavaliers grabbed a consolation with a 30-yard free kick with the last kick of the game.

Overton took only the bare 11 to start the game at South Ham Saints, but they quickly put the hosts on the back foot with two chances through Warren Clark and Shane Thorne going begging. South Ham were awarded a penalty in the 25th minute but Szymon Duszyński saved well. Only 5 minutes later Overton won a penalty, with Richie Budd tucking it away 0-1 half time. Almost from the off, on 47 minutes Shane Thorne set Matty Lowe away to finished well, 0-2. Saints got another penalty that Duszyński saved again to make sure Overton kept a clean sheet and all three points.