| 19.07.2008 @ 15:00 The Camrose |
Crowd: |
| Basingstoke Town |
2 - 1 |
Salisbury City |
An impressive first half performance from Stoke, it would have been difficult to believe that this was only their second competitive match together. Salisbury started brightly in the first 5 minutes, forcing a corner that was comfortably dealt with and a free kick taken quickly resulting in offside. Play switched to the other end with cries from the home crowd for a penalty after a clash in the box. On 6 minutes the impressive James Faulkner had the ball in the back of the net following good work from man of the match Siddy Jombatti. Both were a constant thorn in the Salisbury defence for the remainder of the half. Faulkner had chances on 14 and 16 minutes, a mistimed header comfortably saved and following a free kick his shot blocked by the visiting defence.
A minute later Johnson put Hardman in for the visitors but his shot was blocked and cleared. Play switched to the opposite end with a fine run by Tucknott. His cross not cleared, Warner returning the ball from the opposite side and Jombatti heading just wide. On 19 minutes the home side were 2 up after some fine football and Faulkner and Jombatti were once again involved, with Tom Williamson converting. Salisbury were once again caught offside on 22 and a minute later Dolan and Bristow combined well to break up a dangerous attack. Faulkner won a free kick on 25 in a good position but was over hit by Matt Warner. Tucknott and Faulkner combined to set up Jombatti on 31 but he fluffed his shot and was easily dealt with. Persistence from Jombatti forced a corner on 38, delivered deep by Warner. Faulkner rose but could not get a clean header and was comfortably saved. Salisbury's best efforts came in the dying moments of the first half, Rose blasting over on 41, a minute later Hardman thought he was clear but the linesman's flag went up. Shortly after Maitland found himself with the ball but the home side easily defended this. On the half time break Faulkner put Jombatti through but he shot wide. Half time: Basingstoke 2 Salisbury 0
The second half did not live up to the first as both sides made a number of changes, Stoke using all of their subs. Ruggles, Tarpey and Ruddi came on at the start of the half. On 49 minutes Ruddi crossed, Tarpey's shot ending in more of a cross. 8 minutes later a long clearance from the home defence forced Porter in the Salisbury goal to clear with Jombatti bearing down on him, the keeper slicing his clearance resulting in a corner which was comfortably dealt with by the visitors. Shortly after, another poor clearance by the Salisbury keeper was picked upon by Carl Gibbs who shot inches wide. On 61 minutes Ruggles had a shot blocked by the visiting defence. 2 minutes later the visitors were thrown a lifeline with Elliott Osbourne - Rickets reducing the deficit. On 65 minutes Gibbs had a chance for a decent shot but his effort was weak. With 22 minutes to go Stoke changed keepers with Bledian replacing Ketteridge. Salisbury also made a number of substitutions at this time. Stoke had a corner but Ruggles had little support and the visitors comfortably dealt with it. In the final minutes of the game Tarpy had a shot across goal, Ruggles forced a corner and Gibbs shot over. But the real drama came in the dying seconds, Salisbury creating their best chance since their goal. Stoke were all a sea as a shot came in, Bledian half dealing with it beating the shot into the path of another Salisbury player who from a couple of yards out managed to blast the ball over the bar when it must have been easier to score. The ref blew the final whistle, a deserved 2 - 1 win for the Stoke.
Basingstoke Town: Ross Ketteridge (Bledian Fejzullahu 70), Simon Jackson (Tem Arojogun 68), Robbie Watkins, Jason Bristow, Joe Dolan, Sean Hankin (Carl Gibbs 58), Sam Tucknott (Ruddi 45), (Aiden Lewis 60), Tom Williamson, James Faulkner (Phil Ruggles 45), Siddy Jombatti, Matt Warner (David Tarpey 45).
Salisbury City: Grant Porter, Lewis Benson, Sunny Cubb, Patrick Cox, Curtis Ujah, Elliott Osbourne - Ricketts, Jemal Johnson, Jordan Rose, Luke Maitland, Tom Clarke, Matt Hardman.
Subs: Pat Kinsella, Matt Finlay, Jack Eves, Sam Connolly, Tony Young, Omar Simpson, Danny Uren, Joe Prince |
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