Hampton & Richmond Borough 2 : Basingstoke Town 2
Town’s inconsistencies came to the fore on Saturday January 29 at Hampton. Against a poor home side that had not won in the League since early October the visitors were twice forced to come from a goal down to return to the Camrose with a point.
The defence, still missing Ross Adams, looked vulnerable throughout the match with the reliable Jay Gasson and Callum Reynolds having poor games. This will be of concern to Manager Frank Gray as Town’s defence has been the key to their points tally this season but he will take heart from the fact that the previous week a poor performance resulted in defeat against St. Albans but ‘Stoke were able to salvage a draw from this outing.
Town resorted to a 4-4-2 formation, one that fans seem to prefer but the Dragons were outnumbered and outplayed in midfield. Again, as in the St. Albans game, the Matts Warner and Pattison were unable to get into the game and cause the havoc down the wings that they are capable of.
Town were under pressure from the start with Simon Locke forced into an early save from the dangerous Charlie Moon. Ian Hodges and Moon caused the visiting defence all sorts of problems and were constantly first to the loose ball. Greg Draper had a good opportunity to put town into the lead but his shot was tame and comfortably saved.
The home side continued to pressure and were rewarded on 21 minutes when Locke missed the corner and Hodges headed in the rebound from Reynold’s clearance. Locke redeemed himself with some good saves to keep his side in the contest and the home side looked set to go in at half time a goal to the good. The visitors had other ideas with Pattison floating in a perfect corner and Draper rose above everyone to level the scores in first half injury time.
After the break it was the hosts who continued to make the running. Chances continued to be squandered with Moone hitting the post and Locke denying another effort. On the hour Frank Gray made a tactical change replacing Draper with Nathan Smart and reverting to 4-5-1. This seemed to bring Town back into the game looking stronger in mid-field with Smart testing the home keeper with a low drilled shot.
The Beavers second goal came on 66 minutes as a long ball forward was missed by an under pressure back four, leaving Ian Hodges racing through on a one-on-one with Locke. He calmly flicked the ball over the keeper, the ball clipping the post as it went in. Again, the Beavers were clearly on top, and it was a goal that looked like it could be the game winner.
With two minutes left of normal time substitute Jahson Downes’ long pass over the top evaded Orlando Jeffrey, which left Sam-Yorke with a chance to clip the ball over Lovett, despite heavy pressure from Jeffrey in the process, which he duly did for the equaliser.
The game’s excitement hadn’t ended with the arrival of stoppage time. A free kick was headed home by Dean Inman from the edge of the box for what looked like the winner, a looping header apparently crossing the line despite the efforts of Basingstoke defenders on the line. It was ruled out by the assistant for offside in the 6 yard box.
Town: Locke, Rice, Finlay, Reynolds, Gasson, Lake (sub Williamson 83 min), Pattison (sub Downes 83 min), Laidler, Sam-Yorke, Draper (sub Smart 61), Warner. Subs (not used): Ogunbote, Otobo
Attendance: 335
