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

Basingstoke A Cup Semi Finals.

It their first season in the league, Silchester Village will be playing Hook in the Final of the Basingstoke A Cup on Saturday 4th May at Barlow’s Park Tadley, kick off 2.30 p.m. They are through to the final after beating the favourites and cup holders Twentyten 5-2 after extra time in the Semi Final on Saturday.
Twentyten who are the Division One leaders had their goalkeeper Darren Gary sent off in the 20th minute after being booked for the second time, once for handling outside the penalty area and then bringing down a player. Then in the 30th minute Gary Hibbs scored from a free kick to see Silchester in front and now Gary is now likely to miss the Peter Raynbird Cup Final at the Camrose this Saturday evening with the resulting suspension. A minute into the second half Joe Osborne equalised with an assist from James Arnold, but Silchester regained the lead soon after when Lee Champion headed home from a corner. The ten men had a good share of possession and equalised in added time through Dan Hancock after a Mikey Davies corner was flapped by the keeper. This bought extra time and seven minute in, Jake Nesbitt headed in a corner from Nick Black and this was followed with two from Peter White and a place in the final.

It is Hook, nine times winners of this trophy, who will contest the final after beating AFC Berg 2-0 at King George V playing fields 2-0. Although the first half was goal less, Dan Mellors had a certain goal cleared off the line and a header from All Brown drifted just over the bar. In the 49th minute Mellor was fouled just outside the box and Sean Hayes beat the keeper with the low free kick. Hook looked well in control and when Brown was pushed in the back, Hayes put away the penalty kick awarded to seal another cup final appearance.

Division One

AFC Aldermaston Reserves moved out of the relegation zone after beating bottom of the table Overton United A 3-2. It was Overton in control in the opening stages and went into a two-goal lead by the 35th minute. It was In the 20th minute when a corner by James Wheeler was met with a well struck shot from 42 years old Duncan Leahy and then in the 35th a carbon copy saw Armond Ince at the back post to rifle in the second. In the 65th a low shot from Michael Porter put Aldermaston back in the hunt and then Porter headed in the equaliser after the keeper could only half save. The winner came in the 90th minute when Sam Rogers was fouled by Jack Oxford in the box and Mike Coddington put away the penalty kick. The Overton manager Gregor Restell, although his team are still bottom of the table, felt they played well, and he was looking forward to the next game against Tadley Calleva A this Saturday.

Division Two

The top of Division Two table clash between Renegades and Overton United B resulted in a 2-1 win for Mark Burchett’s Renegades and with a two points lead and a game in hand, are clear favourites for the title. Both of these two teams are now assured on the top two promotion places. They took a fourth minute lead through Dean Scott, after a corner from Ricky Smith was picked up by Ashley Burchett, his deflected shot fell to Scott who finished off this attack with a shot on target. . Overton came back strongly and equalised in the 40th minute when Andy Bullock headed on for Andrew Tottman to side foot home. It was stalemate until four minutes from time when a free kick by Burchett found Smith, disastrous confusion between keeper Terry Blackburn and Richard Budd led to Costen scoring again to see Renegades winners.

AFC Aldermaston A remains bottom of the table even though they won 3-2 against Twentyten Reserves. A fine save by keeper Adam Burridge stopped Alex Green giving Aldermaston an early lead and Ben Corbett went on a mazy run and shot wide. In the 30th Twentyten scored on the break when a ball from Stephen Dean was picked up by Ed Hall who went into to net. A double save from Burridge stopped the equaliser but in the 60th minute Tony Johnson cut in and beat the keeper with strong left footed shot. In the 75th Aldermaston went 2-1 up when Kennedy put Tom Channon away and he finished well. In the 88th A corner from Warren Hill ended up in the net via Jack Barrett, but it was not the end, for in added time Liam Belcher cut in, was brought down and Belcher got up to convert the spot kick

AFC Berg Reserves won 2-1 against Basingstoke Athletic, but it may not be enough to save top them ending in the bottom two. Berg took the lead after 20 minutes when John Black took a pass from Karl Holeborough. They held the lead until the 55th when Josh Dickins was put through by Paul Taylor. Kieran Challis and Dickins forced good saves, but it was Berg who stole the points five minutes from time when a 35-yard shot from Leo Pedro proved too good for keeper Paul Munt.



On Saturday evening at the Camrose Ground, the first on the local cup finals is being played. It is between Twentyten and Overton United B. Kick off 6.30 p.m.
As Twentyten are top pf Division One and looking favourites for the title they won last season, they should be clear favourites, but last Saturday they lost 5-2 to Silchester Village in the Semi Final of the Basingstoke A Cup, only their second defeat of the season and had their goalkeeper Darren Gary sent off. If the suspension starts this week, Manager Alan Spacagna will likely to bring in their reserve keeper Adam Burridge, who has yet to make an appearance this season Division One. With regulars Joe and Charlie also missing from the final, Overton may fancy their chances.
Overton United B only came into the league this season, with veteran former Overton players Ross Soper-Dyer and Ross Harwood running things with and their line-up will include some veterans. Although they have lost four league matches, including the 2-1 defeat against leaders Renegades last Saturday, they are on track for the Runners Up Shield and had the scalp of Division One AFC Aldermaston Reserves in the Semi Final.

In the Road to the Final: Overton United B : First Round. AFC Berg Reserves 10-2. Quarter Finals: Oakridge 6-1. Semi Final: AFC Aldermaston Reserves 3-1. Top Goal scorer: Andy Bullock 22.
Twentyten: First Round Overton United A 11-0. Quarter Finals: Renegades 8-0. Semi Final: AFC Berg 4-3. Top scorers: Ryan Lupton 24. Dan Hancock 24.