Basingstoke Today

[Rupert Scallywag]

Line up as listed by Sky

Asher Hudson
Liam Pestle
Nicky Greene
Jason Henry
Craig Tanner
Phil Wilson
Ryan Palmer
Darius Charles
Ross Montague
Paul Honey
Warren McBean

Subs

Zak Graham
Gareth Williams
Tony Martin
Alan Bray

[Stewart]

0-0HT

[The Editor]

1-0 down and hoofing it apparently.

[Stewart]

1-0 FT

[Rupert Scallywag]

Lost 1 - 0.

Basingstoke scorer - Scott Fitzgerald

[martin1991]

Lost 1-0 according to BBC

[Del]

Mc Bean didn't play in the first half.Zak Graham played and was replaced by Mc Bean at half time.No punch up front in the first half playing uphill.Started well in the second but faded after 20 minutes.Basingstoke goal was a breakaway.We deserved at least a draw.

[os]

Just back, Delboy is right Henry / Graham upfront first half was pretty toothless although we were not committing men forward in support so it was a tough task for them. A lot of aimless passes and high balls up to the front men eaten up as food and drink by the Huge Stoke full backs.

Second half Warren came on and it looked like Haze gave the call to push up a bit, for 20mins we did well calving out some half chances but looked leaky at the back as a consequence. On 76mins a break away lead to the ball played wide right and a fierce low cross was turned from a yard out. We started to chace the game but Stoke looked the more likely to score again exposing us at the back. We did the get the ball in the net with the last kick of the game but ref adjudged a foul on the keeper (I think?).

We had a lot of players out but I don't concur with Delboy I think Stoke deserved their win today!

Speaking to Liam Pestle's Dad during the game seems a nice chap

[Paul L]

I think we deserved a draw. Should have had an equaliser at the death but as there 'keeper was flapping around like a blue and yellow dragon with gold wings he was adjudged to have been fouled. Mind you he shouldn't have been on the pitch after hitting and elbowing Henry about the head just before the above mentioned chance.

[manchesteru]

Was a most frustrating afternoon. 1st half we didn't offer much and maybe should of counted ourselves lucky to have gone in at half-time level. In the 2nd half with the introduction of McBean we looked far better, and maybe could of gone ahead when the 'stoke keeper managed to get the ball over the bar when McBean had struck well. However we faded away. Quite shocked when 'Stoke took the lead as they hadn't really offered that much in the 2nd half. From then on it was just hit and hope from us, which wasn't effective. Of course the main talking point was the incident between the keeper and Henry at the end. Frankley it left a very sour taste in the mouth, the 'keeper should of been sent-off, i know Referee's have to protect goalkeepers fair enough, but he shouldn't of got away with elbowing Henry. As for not allowing the goal, unfortunatly if a goalkeeper goes down in the penalty box, 9 time out of 10 the ref will give the defending team a free-kick, even if like today it was the defending team being the main cause of the 'keeper falling down. I don't want to sound bitter and twisted but that really annoyed me, more than our incapcity to look dangerous going forward (apart from the 1st 20 minutes of the 2nd half of course).

Trying to be positive, i thought Henry worked really hard up front, IMO Patsy did well in defence and Wilson made several saves. Onwards and upwards

[jeff]

Not sure Henry was entirely blameless though, he elbowed the keeper in the chest and had his studs on the keeper's feet first before the keeper struck him in the face. Still, an elbow in the face is as good as assault and he should have been off.

Jason didn't do himself any favours keeping on at the keeper after the cards had been dealt though.

Still, thats only from where I was standing! I'd love to see Henry get a couple in as he looked handy in the first half, useful backup.

What exactly did Montague do today?

Greene and Hudson had good games though, as did Patsy. Shame Warren's immediate impact didn't continue, a couple of goals before 60mins and who knows...

[dof]

Apparently Warren arrived late, hence his non appearence first half. Sutton struggled in the first half up the slope, with forwards being pretty toothless. Second half with the appearence of Warren more bite came into Suttons play, but lacking the the final shot on target. The pressure lasted about 2o minutes, after which Suttons long ball game came into play, often over hit down the slope, and Warren disappeared onto the right wing . Why oh why cant we keep the ball on the ground and play football, which I am sure we are capable of.

[Del]

What exactly did Montague do today?

I was wondering that myself

[Paul L]

Any early news on Paul Honey's injury? As this doesn't make a pretty picture:

[Amber Aleman]

I've no news on PH, but thought he was one of our better players today.

I think today's game illustrated how dependent we are on Warren for punch up front. He certainly made a difference when he came on at half-time (won a free kick within 5 seconds, from which we came quite close to scoring). But without the injured Craig Watkins there's nobody providing effective support. Jason Henry worked hard but has yet to establish himself at this level. And the jury's still out on Montague - we couldn't expect too much in his first run-out with the first team. I was disappointed to see Warren out on the wing so much - surely he's more dangerous in a central position.

It wasn't much of a game. But Basingstoke scored the goal and forced Phil into a good close-range save in the first half, whereas we hardly tested their keeper at all. So, grudgingly, I have to say that they just about deserved the win.

As for the goalmouth incident at the end, I wasn't surprised that their keeper only got a yellow card. Yes he elbowed Jason, but it was with little force. A couple of minutes later we had the ball in the net from the corner, but the ref had blown before the ball crossed the line.