Stoke Have A Mare At Home - Basingstoke vs. Weston Super Mare

Match action from The Camrose

It was FA Cup weekend yet again (I haven't been to a league match for almost four weeks) and for the third round in a row I travelled to Hampshire for the Second Qualifying Round tie between Basingstoke Town and Weston Super Mare. This was the first game in this seasons competition for both sides and they have meet once already in the league with Weston Super Mare winning one nil at The Woodspring Stadium. Both teams have a decent start to the season and Basingstoke were unbeaten at home this season. Weston Super Mare were sitting in third place in the early season table.

Moments before kick off

There is a flurry of Basingstoke corners in the first few minutes but the Weston Super Mare defence copes comfortably. Weston Super Mare almost gift the hosts the opener but the chance is wasted. The Weston Super Mare keeper then offers Basingstoke another chance when he spills the ball but Basingstoke miss another good opportunity. Basingstoke are well on top in the opening stages with Weston Super Mare mainly attacking on the break. Their first real chance is a shot from distance which bends wide. They manage to take the lead with their second chance - after a short scramble in the box the ball is lashed home from close range. Basingstoke equalise a couple of minutes later when a corner is headed back across the box and the ball is prodded home. Weston Super Mare almost retake the lead just before half time but the forward can't quite connect with the cross to the back post.  

One of the early Basingstoke corners

Weston Super Mare do retake the lead just after half time with a free kick from just outside the box. Weston Super Mare almost extend their lead soon after but the effort is blocked at the near post. Basingstoke have their first chance of the half when the forward aims his header straight at the keeper. The visitors then create a one on one chance but the Basingstoke keeper is able to save his effort. The middle part of the game is broken up by lots of niggly fouls which breaks the rhythm of the match. The tie is then almost put to bed but the ball is saved after it broke to the striker in the box. The tie is effectively ended when the Weston Super Mare forward scores after the Basingstoke keeper had made a save. Basingstoke continue to try and get a second but the closest them come is a long range which goes just wide.

View from the stand towards the clubhouse

The Camrose is about a half hour walk from Basingstoke Station. There are regular buses from the town centre to the ground if you don't fancy the walk. Trains to Basingstoke depart from London Waterloo and the journey lasts around an hour. The pub I had intended to visit turned out to be closed and I therefore went to The Bakers which is a Grenne King pub and had several screens to watch the lunch time kick off on. The clubhouse was set back from the actual ground and was quite big and also had several screens for the early kick off.

The programme was a decent effort. It was full colour and there was plenty of reading regarding recent results and the FA Cup in general. There was also a lot of information regarding the visiting side.

Another view of the stand at The Camrose