James Faulkner celebrating the penalty against Hampton
Pictures from the match
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From Basingstoke Official:
The opening minutes were scrappy, neither side adjusting to the conditions, the home side kicking to the town end and overhitting passes. The visitors soon settled down and after some fine play by Tucknott for Stoke, Mcauley put a dangerous cross into the box for Hampton and caused some confusion in the home defence. Hampton started to apply the pressure, Kitteridge in goal just getting the better of Yaku in a 1on1 situation. On 19 minutes Kitteridge was again in action, pushing over a firm drive from the visiting captain Dean Wells. Stoke had 2 early scares, clearing off the line, the second being a fine goal line clearance from Dolan following a Hampton free kick, Kitteridge saving the return shot.
On 22 minutes, against the run of play Stoke broke out and Jombarti found himself in the box. The Hampton defender with 1 too many attempts to foul him conceding a penalty. Faulkner placed the ball and confidently converted. A minute later Tucknott went down in the box under a challenge but the referee waved play on. The goal settled the home side down but the dangerous Yaku for Hampton forced a corner on the half hour which was easily dealt with by the impressive Dolan. A minute later Yaku again forced a corner but Dolan was first to the ball again. Stoke forced a corner late in the half that came to nothing and Yaku was again in the action with a shot wide. The half finished with the impressive Tucknott causing problems for the visiting defence as he did on many occasions during the afternoon. H/T Basingstoke 1 Hampton 0
Stoke came out of the blocks in the second half, almost straight from the kick off Tucknotts blistering pace got him clear. He chipped the advancing keeper from distance only to see his effort go wide. On 55 minutes Warner put Faulkner through but with the Hampton defender attempting to catch him he scuffed his shot and went just wide. The visitors did not adapt to the change of ends early in the second half and were overhitting passes now kicking into the town end. Half way through the half they began to take control and Stoke were struggling to defend in the wind. Again Yaku was at the centre of things for the visitors with a good run down the right but was well marshalled by the home defence. On 63 minutes former Stoke man Ben Wright replaced Mcauley and he was soon in the action. Wright nearly forced a mistake from Kitteridge on 66, the keeper grabbing the ball at the second attempt. A minute later Tucknott and Faulkner were involved in a home move with Warner producing a good save from the visiting keeper, no one able to pick up the rebound. Soon after ,Tucknott left the visitors in his trail, crossed from the right, Matt Warner needing to place the ball but blasted over.
The visitors seemed to draw inspiration and at the other end Wright forced a corner. Hodges shot wide from a dangerous corner and an uneasy moment for the home defence with the ball bobbling in the box, fortunately the visitors were unable to capitalise. With 17 minutes to go Hankin was booked for Stoke for time wasting at a throw in and 10 minutes later he was given his marching orders for an off the ball incident. With 15 minutes to go the home defence failed to deal with Lakes cross from the left and Yaku forced the ball home from a couple of yards.
With 13 minutes left Ruggles replaced Jombarti and a minute later Faulkner was adjudged offside when he thought he was clear. With 10 minutes left Harris replaced Yaku for Hampton. With the home side down to 10 men a 25 yard free kick forced a fine push over the bar from Kitteridge. Harper for the visitors received a yellow card for a foul on Tucknott , the referee giving a foul on the keeper from the resulting free kick. With 4 minutes on the clock Ogunbote replaced Faulkner, the home side now looking to secure a point. In the last minute Hodges and Harris set up Wells and he looked to have stolen the 3 points for the visitors but for a fine save from the home keeper. The last kick of the game a free kick for Hampton on the right 10 yards out from the box, Dolan first to meet the incoming ball.
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