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Cup and Match Report

  • 06/04/15
  • By by Peter Raynbird.
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On Saturday evening at the Winklebury Football Complex, the Final of the Basingstoke A Cup is being played, kick off 6.30 p.m.

North Hants Saturday Junior Cup Final
Kingsclere 4 Overton United A 1.
Kingsclere, who now operates in the Andover League, looked the better outfit at Whitchurch last Tuesday evening where they ran off deserved 4-1 winners off the North Hants Saturday Junior Cup.
When kicking up the slope in the first half they had more of the ball, with the impressive Dan Cicchetti forcing a very good save from the Overton keeper Andy Grice and later going close with an overhead kick.
Ben Evans and Lee Corson at the heart of the Overton defence did well to hold the Kingsclere front line until in the 43rd minute and then it was a fine shot on the turn by Alex Frankling that beat keeper Andy Grice.
Into the second half and within three minutes Frankling struck again, this time a scrambled effort in the crowded six yard box and he completed his straight hat trick when a shot by Sam Hamilton hit the post and fell nicely for him to convert..
Being 3-0 down so early looked an uphill task for Overton, but Siyanni Thomas who had plenty of pace as Overton’s main strike force, gave them hope. He had missed a good chance earlier, but in the 56th minute he received a rare pass from John Gurney and beat keeper Andy Merritt to put them back in the game. Thomas broke through in the 66th but was unable to beat Merritt who saved well in a one on one and John Sayers hit a chance over the bar in this strong fight back.
It did not last and in the 75th minute Kingsclere made sure of the cup when a corner kick taken by Player/Manager Michael Simpkins was mishandled by Grice and Chris Hawthorne put away the loose ball
The Cup and awards were presented by Jim Johnston, Life Vice president of the North Hants FA

In the Premier Division the five matches unbeaten run by Tadley Calleva A came to an end when Hook defeated them 3-1. Hook were not at full strength and included several reserve players and it was the reserve team manager Loz Wright who played through for Andy Parker to give Hook a 34th minute lead. Tadley came back to level within a minute when Simon Penfold beat Aaron King, normally one of their strikers, who had to play in goal in the absence of Greg Archer. Hook retook their lead in the 61st when Stacey Harris went on a good run, played through to Andy Haig who netted from a tight angle.. In the 90th minute the three points were assured when Tom Davies went on a long dribble, went wide and played through for Dan Mason to convert the third.
Rising Sun DC played the first of the two ordered replayed after playing an ineligible player. It was against bottom club Welly Old Boys who they beat 12-1 in the original fixture in September. This time Welly did done better conceded 11 without reply. Graham Jenkins, who should be given much credit for keeping this butch of youngster’s together despite, conceded 160 goals. He had to play in goal this week, conceding four in the final ten minutes. Stuart Austen headed a hat trick, with two apiece for Ben Nicholls, Ben Vine, and Shaun Searle.

In Division Two a another set back for the hopes Bounty United had of winning the title, being held to a 4-4 draw at Castle Fields against Preston Candover. They were cruising at half time with a 4-1 advantage following goals from Matt Love 2 and Mitchell Stokes and 25 yard free kick from Steve Bucksey. Mike Fuller had scored for Preston in the first half, but in the second Kyle Buckland got in the act with two quick goals and the equalizer with three minutes to go came via Mark Oram, a header from a Tom Green corner.
Basingstoke Athletic remains on track for the title after beating AFC Berg 4-2. James Lounton gave them a second minute lead, a tap in from the Nathan Read cross. Luke Allison was making a rare appearance in the Athletic goal and was beaten in the 25th by Nick Tucker after he had beaten two men. Lounton restored the lead before the break following a corner by Roman Vanic and when Richard McCoubrie made it 2-2 early in the second half, a shock result looked on. It was in the 80th minute when substitute Matt Button put Athletic in front again from a Read corner kick and five minutes from time Lounton completed his hat trick to seal the points. This now takes Athletic two points behind leaders Labour Club with three matches in hand.
The battle to see who ends up in the bottom two of the table was at Sherborne St John where the Reserves took on Overton United B. The game was close as expected with the one goal resolving it. It came in the 85th minute when Darren Hutchins beat the offside trap and played a good ball through for Joe Holder to smash into the net. Andy Darmody in the Sherborne goal, pulled off some good saves from Hutchins and Hayden Chalker, but a vital save from Overton’s Richard Harris from first team player Alex Izzo kept a clean sheet the three points they needed in there final fixture of the season With four matches still to play, Sherborne could still finish not having to apply for re-election.

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On Saturday evening at the Winklebury Football Complex, the Final of the Basingstoke A Cup is being played, kick off 6.30 p.m. As the two teams, Basingstoke Royals and Hook currently occupy the top two positions in the Premier Division; one can expect a competitive match. Royals should be favourites as they are unbeaten in the league with ten victories from their 13 matches played., but Hook did hold them to a 3-3 draw as recent as a month ago and they did beat one of the fancied clubs Rising Sun DC 6-2 in the Semi Finals, while Royals had a comfortable 3-1 win over Tadley Calleva A.