Match Report: Walton & Hersham 1 - 2 Basingstoke Town

Southern League Premier South Division – Saturday 3rd February 2024
Walton & Hersham 1 v 2 Basingstoke Town Attendance – 805
Where: Elmbridge Xcel Centre, Waterside Drive, Walton-On-Thames, Surrey. KT12 2JP
Dan Brownlie’s line-up today was : 1. Simon Grant, 2. Markus Johnson-Schuster, 3. Callum Winchcombe, 4. Michael Atkinson, 5. James Clark, 6. Billy Upton, 7. Ben Cook, 8. Simon Dunn (Capt), 9. Liam Ferdinand, 10. Paul Hodges, 11. Luis Le Paih
On the bench: Bradley Wilson, Dan Rowe, Shane Hollamby, Massimo Giamattei & D’Andre Brown
Referee – Christopher Poole

The game kicks off with Stoke attacking the segregated Stoke fans in the first- half, and it’s the homeside who has the first chance, as a long ball over the top, is kept in by the byline and sent over to the far-right-hand post, where a Walton forward heads wide.

Walton have two more attacks, one saved by Simon Grant, the other a cross that flies across the six-yard line and out for a goal-kick.

Stoke then have some possession in the Walton final third of the pitch, and we win a free-kick, just outside the penalty area, but the kick and resulting corner come to nothing.
Stoke are certainly looking more lively as we attack and the opening goal comes from an error at the back, as Walton lose the ball trying to play out from the back, and Luis Le Paih intercepts a pass, then finds Liam Ferdinand, who takes two touches then slots it past the Walton keeper, who is not happy. GOAL! Walton & Hersham 0 – 1 Basingstoke Town (Ferdinand 15 mins)

The game continues and an injury to Simon Dunn, means he will be replaced by Dan Rowe (20 mins).

Walton get back into the game on twenty-five minutes, as a cross from the right, is turned in and Walton are back level. Walton & Hersham 1-1 Basingstoke

Minutes later, superb work from Ferdinand, who retrieves a through ball by the byline, then nutmegs his defender and sends the ball across the goal, where Paul Hodges gets a touch and somehow the ball slides inches wide of the far post.

The game continues with little action, as a number of injuries breaks up the flow of the game, as we head into the last few minutes of the half.
The referee books a couple of Walton players for dissent, before blowing for halftime.

Halftime Score: Walton & Hersham 1 v 1 Basingstoke Town
The second-half gets underway and Walton win a corner on the left, but the kick is headed clear by Billy Upton.

Then just past the fifty-minute mark, it's the Michael Atkinson show, as a long kick-out from Grant is won back by Stoke deep in Walton’s half, and the ball is slid to Atkinson who takes a touch then smashes a shot that the Walton keeper can only parry clear from his diving save, and it’s Atkinson who is first to the rebound, and his follow-up shot finds the bottom left-hand corner of the goal. GOAL! Walton & Hersham 1 – 2 Basingstoke Town (Atkinson 52 mins)

Walton push forward, but Upton and then Markus Johnson-Schuster break up their attacks.

The midfield of Hodges, Atkinson, Cook & Le Paih are battling, to keep Walton at bay, and it’s time for our second change as Cook appears to have picked up a knock, and is replaced by Bradley Wilson (65 mins).

Walton have a couple of attacks, but again have done little to trouble Grant in goal.

Billy Upton makes another diving head clearance, and appears to have a chest injury, but he’s not going off without him being dragged off.

Walton continue to push, but Stoke’s defence his holding them out, and despite bringing on Eddie Simon, are not forcing a save out of Grant, as we move into the last fifteen minutes of the game.

Now in the final ten, Stoke are forced into their third change as Billy Upton, is replaced by Shane Hollamby (81 mins).
Stoke have an attack down the right and the ball finds Wilson at the far post, but his first-time volley flies over the bar.

Walton have a shot blocked by their own player and we are able to clear.
We continue to frustrate Walton’s attacks, as the referee confirms a minimum of seven added-minutes, will be played.

Stoke continue to battle for every ball, which is optimised by Le Paih, who wins the ball just inside Walton’s half then takes the ball forty yards past four players down to the right-hand byline, then sends a cross over that Walton scramble clear.

Now in the eighth minute of added-time, a cross from the right, is headed wide by a Walton player, and that’s Walton’s last chance, as the referee blows the final whistle following the goal-kick, and the celebrations start behind the goal on this big win.

Full-time Score: Walton & Hersham 1 v 2 Basingstoke Town
Cook-Appiah 25 mins,                                   Ferdinand 15 mins, Atkinson 52 mins

Match Thought’s
Where do we start with the superlatives for this win. Probably with Manager Dan Brownlie, who took the decision to go with a more defensive line-up, and nailed it with five in midfield, dropping both Dan Rowe & Bradley Wilson to the bench. Michael Atkinson’s fourth goal of the season, Paul Hodges, Luis Le Paih all worked tirelessly breaking up Walton’s possession.
The back four were strong, backed-up by Simon Grant, our Simon Grant now.
Liam Ferdinand’s twelfth of the season, was just a small part of his whole game performance, as he battled for everything.
This win means so much for Supporters and the club alike.
Up Next:
Due to a fixture change early in the season, we have a two-week break, before we head down to Poole Town on the 17th February.

Match Report by Martin French..