Basingstoke & District League Match Reports from Saturday 20th October, By Peter Raynbird.

North Hants May Cup First Round

Andover New Street Swifts won the North Hants May Cup last season, but they will not be there this time as they were beaten 3-2 by Twentyten on the main New Street pitch. It took the visitors ten minutes to take the lead through Dan Hancock. It was started when a corner by Karl Hanks was not cleared and it fell to Joe Osborne, who played to Jack Clarke and his pass led to Hancock beating the keeper in a one on one. New Street replied in the 20th minute and then took the lead five minutes later. Twentyten were level by the 30th when Joe Osborne after a 50-yard run knocked through for Ryan Lupton to slot past the keeper. Both Lupton and Clarke forced good saves as they pressed, and the pressure was rewarded in the last minute when a long ball from Clarke bounced nicely for Hancock to head over the advancing keeper just outside the penalty area and this proved the winner.

Twentyten Reserves were not as fortunate as they came up against the tough Broughton side away and suffered a 10-1 defeat. They fielded a weakened side and went three goals adrift in the opening 30 minutes and although Josh Hulme put away a cross from Mark Smith, they were 5-1 down at the break. Things did not improve in the second half and the quality shone through for the Andover side. One consolation for Twentyten Reserves is they now goes through into the North Hants Junior Cup along with all of the first-round losers.

Division Two North Warnborough took the scalp of Division One Tadley Calleva A to go through to the second round after beating them 8-7 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw at ninety minutes. Tadley fielded a scratch side with veteran Manager Bradley Nash having to play at the back as he was short of defenders.

They did take a 5th minute lead when Tom Haggith rode a challenge after being put through by Jack Jones. Borough drew level before the break when a free kick taken by Jake Gorman hit the wall and he followed up to net the rebound. Tadley then had their keeper Gary Harper injured that did not help and Borough took the lead when a 30-yard shot from Bailey Craig flew past Dave Hicks, who had taken over. Reece Emery was busy in the Warnborough goal, making some good saves from Fred Bull and Lyndon Tyson, but both Sam Buley and Gorman had chances at the other end before in the 89th Simon Yelland went on a fine run and beat Emery to force a shootout. Both teams were successful with the spot kicks, until at 8-7 the penalty from Fred Bull was saved by Emery.

I went to Sherborne Road to see AFC Berg play AFC Aldermaston Reserves and after a tough game Berg ran off 4-2 winners. Berg took an early lead when Paul Crow headed home a corner by Ashley Elward. Aldermaston drew level in the 25th when Alex Dumbuya was brought down, and Bret Rann converted the penalty kick. Rann was right through soon after but his on target shot was blocked, so it finished level at halftime. In the 51st minute Aldermaston were given another penalty when Jamal Small was through and the out-rushing keeper Torren Kirrage floored him and again Rann converted. Play was end to end with Rann missing a golden opportunity for his hat trick and Alleyne shooting straight at keeper Matt Desay. With twenty minutes to play came the controversial goal that put Berg level. Reece Chapman broke clear down the left flank, up went the linesmen’s flag for offside, referee Gary Long did not agree, and the Berg striker went on to beat Desay and after his lengthy protest the goal stood. Desay, who is also their manager, said we are very disappointed with the decision that was a game changer. The Aldermaston heads seemed to go down after this and Elward raced onto a fine cross field pass from substitute Mitchell Medford to make it 3-2 and with five minutes left a free kick was taken by Carlos Gonzales, it led the bar being hit twice before Dan Deadman netted. Aldermaston still had chances when Kirrage pulled of good saves from Rann and Sid Gbla.

On the other pitch AFC Berg Reserves were playing the Division Two leaders Oakridge and it proved comfortable 5-2 win for the table toppers Oakridge. After ten minutes Aaron Johns gave them the lead from a Sam Trodd assist and an own goal made it 2-0. Dan Trussler pulled a goal back, but Trodd took a pass from his brother Max for the third and by the break it was 4-1 when Johns scored his second from another Sam Trodd pass. Jamie Perryman pulled it back to 4-2, but Sam Trodd took a pass from Chris Andrews for number five.

A 3-1 win for Basingstoke Athletic at Berrydown against Overton United A, saw them through. A defensive slip allowed Paul Taylor to send Keyron Hylton through for their opener and Ryan Watts, who was recently transferred from Overton, made it 2-0. Matt Lowe and Gavin Alexander combined to give Reece Liggins his opportunity and United were back in the game. They then went down to ten men when they lost Nathan Read but still had opportunities through Alexander and Lowe before Taylor sewed up the points with the third for Athletic.

It was a bad day for Renegades, who lost their unbeaten record against Andover League club Kingsclere at the Fieldgate Centre, where they lost 7-2 and the bad news is their keeper Dave Purt broke his thumb. They took the lead after just two minutes when Ricky Smith played a one two with John Smith who netted, but Kingsclere came back strongly to go 3-1 up. With Connor Morey playing well, in the 41st minute Renegades came again. Ashley Burchett started the move, he found Harry Roberts who then passed to George Lagden, his knock back was perfect for Matt Baker to net. The loss of keeper Purt for the second half began to tell, as outfield player Richard Reece, who had taken over the gloves, was soon beaten by two penalties to go further behind and his team were no match for their superior opponents.

Overton United B are through after beating CK Andover A 1-0.

Silchester Village took on CK Andover B away and came home with a 3-0 victory. Stephen (Stumpy) Burgess put over the centre and Kye Theodore put the chance away. This was in the 32nd minute and it took them until the 66th when Theodore scored again, this time Jordon Ingram with the assist. The game was made safe in the 72nd when Burgess scored after playing a one two with Dave Morgan.

The outstanding tie is between Herriard Sports and AFC Aldermaston A. This game was put off because Aldermaston A were playing in the Berks and Bucks Cup at Wantage against Letcombe where they made their exit beaten 4-1. They went in at half time 2-0 in arrears but came back to score in the 75th minute from an Ashley Jones free kick. They were in the game until they conceded two further in the final five minutes. The outstanding North Hants May Cup match against Herriard will be played this Saturday.