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Alain shot wide for the home side and after some good work by the visitors Jombarti fired over the bar. 7 minutes in Jones Awuah found himself through on goal only for Kitteridge to advance and make a great block. 4 minutes later at the other end a good Basingstoke move involving Lovegrove, Williamson, Jombarti and Botham finally saw the ball delivered into the area by Jamie Lovegrove but straight into the home keepers hands. From a home free kick, 30 yards out Beckford backheeled to Beaney, the latter driving at the well positioned wall. At the other end a Botham delivery into the Fisher box brought a corner courtesy of Jombarti's header coming off the back of a Fisher defender. As has been often the case the corner posed the home defence no problem. Kitteridge came to collect from Yao as it looked that he may be first to the ball following a flick on from a free kick. New signing Scott Shulton showed some nice skills in the 23rd minute and earned a free kick. Bristow went up and appeared to be poleaxed by the home keeper but play continued and the home side cleared the danger. As Stoke tried to get back on level terms Jombarti played to Lovegrove whose cross was half cleared, Tarpey won a 50/50 ball and passed back to Jombarti who tried to lob the keeper, his effort just over. On the half hour Beaney departed to make way for Sanchez Ming for the home side. Faulkner collected on the edge of the box, turned and his shot went over the bar. With Fisher on the attack a battle of the number 2's, the away one clearing the cross from the home one, and as the ball came back in Lovegrove cleared again only for Alain to find the Sainsburys car park from his 30 yard effort. The first half fizzled out with Faulkner picking up a booking for a foul on Gavin Dayes.  Stoke were missing Sam Tucknott through illness and at the start of the second half Gibbs came on for Faulkner for the same reason. Town tried desperately to get back into the game and for periods of the second half dominated. It was hard to believe that the home side were 1 up as the Fisher faithful spent most of the time on their players backs. In the 47th minute the home keeper was forced to make an unconvincing punch from Tarpey, a sigh of relief as the ball fell safely to a home defender. At the other end Kitteridge and Bristow had a moment of indecision that almost allowed Yao on the scoresheet again but Kitteridge challenged him just outside the area. Hickie broke down the right for Fisher and his shot failed to find the target. Stoke were now trying to apply the pressure and while they could command 2/3 of the park, failed to find any impression at the "business end". Shulton and Botham impressed as the game went on, the latter forcing a corner. A poor delivery by Williamson was turned in again by him, the ball bobbling in the area and Schulton forcing a corner from the keepers fumble. From a good Botham free kick Bristow headed straight into the arms of the home keeper. Tarpey drove a central 25 yard free kick over the wall and collected by Lewington in the fisher goal. Stoke had control of the game, Gibbs, Shulton and Jombarti involved in a fine move brought to an end by a poor cross. The home team were not helped as very little encouragement was coming from their noisy die-hards. As Stoke searched for the equaliser Lovegrove crossed into the area, Tarpey rose and the Fisher shotstopper was looking less than decisive as he again fumbled under pressure and the ball was hacked away from the goal line. Good work by Gibbs, moved the ball onto Jombarti who put Botham in and he shot wide. Half way through the 2nd period saw Fisher's first serious attack since the break. They forced a corner and then a couple of shots just wide that Kitteridge had covered. Jombarti forced a corner on the right and as Stoke were preparing to take it Williamson was forced to change his blood splattered shirt, Stoke now having two number 5's!. When the corner came in the ball pinged in the area, Gibbs half shooting and Tarpey unable to get on the end of it. At the other end a couple of home attacks had ended in offsides. With 17 minutes left Gibbs was fouled 22 yards out. Jombarti shot to the left of the goal but the keeper had ample time to save. The home fans and officials were left bemused as Hankin appeared to poleaxe substitute Ming infront of the referee and his assistant but play was waved on with the player lying on the ground. Neat play by the visitors saw the impressive Botham seem to put Hankin through but play was halted by the intervention of the referee's assistant for offside. Strong play by Botham saw him fend off a challenge to put Tarpey away down the wing but Tarpey's cross could not pick out a team mate in the box. In the 82nd minute Yao appeared to be clear in the same position as his goal had come from but this time Kitteridge was able to block. At the other end Tarpey thought he was in on goal but again the flag was raised for offside. Play reverted to the other end and Dolan was forced to concede a corner. A flurry of substitutions, at 85 Kiffin and Howe on, Beckford and Awuah off for Fisher. A minute later Ruggles replaced Dolan. A late flurry by Stoke saw Botham force a corner and Hankin shoot over the bar. Bizarrely, despite all the substitutions and the trainer coming on and a shirt change the referee only played 45 minutes and 28 seconds for the half. Basingstoke: Ross Kitteridge, Jamie Lovegrove, Sean Hankin, Jason Bristow, Joe Dolan, Scott Shulton, David Tarpey, Tom Williamson, James Faulkner, Sodi Jombarti, Calum Botham. Subs: Carl Gibbs, Jide Ogunbote, Phil Ruggles, Adam Aimable, Rob Watkins. |
