 Once again the travelling Stoke support was in good voice, accompanied by the drum, much to the annoyance of some parts of the home crowd, but it was the home fans who were silenced in a three minute spell in the first half. The home side started confidently, gaining two free kicks conceded by Jason Bristow in the first two minutes. A minute later Donal O’Sullivan ran on to a long ball and won a corner. Moses Swaibu delivered and O’Sullivan headed wide. 9 minutes in and the visitors were under pressure as a ball came through a crowd of players into the box, a home player falling in the area and the home crowd baying for a penalty, Stoke were forced to clear their lines and eventually Ross Kitteridge claimed the loose ball. O’Sullivan ran onto a long ball, with the Dragons appealing for offside the ball was fed wide to Luke L’Anson and his cross was claimed confidently by kitteridge under his bar. At the other end Mitchell Bryant chased down what should have been an easy clearance for Gareth Williams in the Bromley net but his hurried clearance almost fell to debutant Ross Montague with the home keeper well out of goal. On 26 minutes the visitors took the lead, Tom Hateley ran with the ball from his own half and supplied the perfect pass to Bryant, the in form striker confidently slotting the ball home. Three minutes later the Hayes Lane crowd were stunned as the winless visitors doubled the lead. Matt Warner down the left provided the perfect cross for ‘new boy’ Montague to head home. The hosts responded on the half hour, centre half Jerrome Sobers rising at a corner heading wide. 3 minutes later O’Sullivan was booked for handling, charging down Kitteridge’s clearance. As Bromley looked to get back in the game Jason Bristow showed his class as he stood strong against O’Sullivan as he looked to threaten the Town goal. On the stroke of half time the Dragons could have killed the game as Montague headed wide from a corner with a free header. Half Time Bromley 0 Basingstoke Town 2  Bromley manager Mark Goldberg took a huge gamble at half time, off came Ljah Nderson, Donal O’Sullivan, Moses Swaibu and on came Ashley-Paul Robinson, Warren McBean and Anthony Joseph. Bromley showed more endeavour in the second half but the visitors were not going to surrender their lead and Kitteridge stood firm in the Stoke goal. Town looked to secure the win and Montague put Bryant through into the box, the striker going to ground but there was no contact. Bryant was involved again down the right his cross finding the impressive Jerome Maledon who unfortunately scuffed his shot when in a good position. Bryant and Hateley were involved in another good Town move but they could not produce the finish that would have secured the game. 10 minutes after the restart the home side should have reduced the deficit, Loui Fazakerley crossing and substitute Warren McBean heading wide from close range. Sub Robinson found his way into the referee’s notebook for a foul on Montague as he was bringing the ball clear from a Bromley attack. McBean looked lively and showed some good skills in front of goal but a strong challenge from Sido Jombarti broke up the play. The hosts built up some nice moves down the flanks and looked to build in mid-field but never really threatened the away goal as the visitors stood strong in defence and the hosts could not find what was required in the final third of the field. Tom Williamson again was impressive for Stoke and was involved in several good moves as the half progressed as Stoke went looking for the third goal. He set up Montague with a fine pass who was just unable to find Bryant in space. As the game entered the last fifteen minutes Williamson picked out Maledon and he made a strong run to the box but was brought down two yards out. Warner fired the free kick over the bar. Robinson and McBean tried to fashion something for the home side but Adam Aimable was alert to the situation. McBean tried a right foot shot from the edge of the box but Kitteridge had it covered. Rob Watkins conceded a free kick 4 yards outside the box. Former Crystal Palace player Robinson stepped up and the ball was still rising as it sailed over the stand behind the goal. There was time for David Tarpey to replace Mitchell Bryant and as the home fans were exiting the away fans began the party with a rendition of “3 points are coming home” to the tune of the three lions. Basingstoke Town: Ross Kitteridge, Adam Amiable, Matt Warner, Jerome Maledon, Jason Bristow, Rob Watkins, Sido Jombarti, Tom Williamson, Ross Montague, Mitchell Bryant (David Tarpey 88), Tom Hateley Subs not used: Phil Ruggles, Joe Dolan, Jide Ogunbote, Carl Gibbs Next up Saturday coming and FA cup 4th qualifying round action away to BuryTown. |
