Swindon Supermarine 0 Basingstoke Town 3 (FA Trophy – Round 1 – 28/10/23)
Basingstoke Town progressed into the next round of the FA Trophy with relative ease. Marine started slowly and the visitors went one up in the 10th minute with a clever set piece corner. With most players drawn into the box the visitor’s Nathan Smart lingered on the edge of the area. He rifled in a well struck shot that did seem to take a slight nick on its way to the back of the net.
The visitors were dominating the early exchanges and on the quarter of an hour mark Bradley Wilson marauded into the box, but his shot hit the post. However, a minute later they doubled their lead when a D’Andre Brown cross was carried over the line by Conor Brann in the home goal. A rare error from the young keeper who has done so well since joining Marine.
On the 43rd minute Basingstoke seemed to have scored a third when Bradley Wilson broke clear of the defence and slid the ball into the back of the net. However, the assistant’s flag was raised for offside – it was a tight call that fell Marine’s way.
The second half saw two incidents in a minute that switched the game from being a competitive cup tie to a comfortable second half for the visitors. In the 48th minute an effort from an Ioan Richards header was felt by Marine players, and many supporters behind the goal, to have crossed the line. However, to some bamboozlement the officials declined to award the goal. Almost instantly from this incident Basingstoke scored a well worked third through Liam Ferdinand.
The remainder of the second half was relatively uneventful with Basingstoke Town playing out the game with ease and Marine struggling to find the fluency seen in recent games. Indeed, the final quarter of an hour was more a case of both sets of players battling the elements as the heavens opened with a monsoon like downpour. That said just before full time a Jamie Edge effort from just outside the area went close to offering Marine a consolation goal with the visitor’s keeper tipping over – via a clip of the crossbar.
Basingstoke Town deserve credit for their strong performance. They defended resolutely, pressed tenaciously, and were a constant threat when attacking. From a Marine perspective this was, after recent improved performances, a disappointing day. The team started sluggishly and struggled for much of the match to find fluency. The team also lacked penetration in their play and thus created fewer openings than in recent games – this meant the opposition’s defence was relatively untroubled. It was a day where, in all honesty, too many Marine players seemed below their best. Two notable exceptions to this were Sam Turl and Liban Ibrahim who put in good shifts in the full back berths.
Next weekend the two teams meet again at Basingstoke’s home ground. From a Marine perspective there are lessons to learn from this defeat; a need to regroup; and an early opportunity to provide their opponents with a sterner test.
Marine’s player of the match – Sam Turl
Visitor’s player of the match -D’andre Brown
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