Basingstoke Hockey Men win top of the table clash

The home team started like they meant business, a greater drive and intensity during the first fifteen minutes paid heavy dividends, with Jed Mills slapping the ball home from a short corner, 1-0. Tails up, Basingstoke made it 2-0, this time Ben Jubin the scorer.

The hosts third arrived shortly afterwards, Dean Record waiting for the goalkeeper to commit, before slipping the ball to Ben Jubin who made it 3-0.

Epsom responded, following an attack down the right the ball eventually broke to an Epsom forward who cleverly slotted past Adam Smith on the reverse, making the score 3-1 at half time.

Epsom started the second half well, pressing the ball hard. This resulted in a short corner and a green card for Basingstoke. Epsom dispatching the short corner to reduce the lead to one.

Following Epsom’s second goal, the match became a scrappy affair with both sides picking up cards. However, once back to full strength Basingstoke sealed the game, Grant Rouse with a tap in, 4-2.

With Epsom tiring, Sam King picked out David Stones with a 65-yard eye of the needle pass, Stones rounding the goalkeeper and finished well on his reverse for a final score of 5-2.

The men’s second team travelled to Fleet and Ewshot for an early, rain soaked game. The visitors started well, dominant throughout the park and after a hand in the back during Basingstoke's first attack, the awarded short corner was duly dispatched by Jacques Lourens.

Basingstoke continued to play well, maintaining possession and territory. After 20 minutes Greg Smith sent a pin point aerial into the Fleet D, which Paul Handley calmly collected, before rounding the keeper and slotting home for 2-0. As the half drew to a close, a quick free hit from Alex Miller, saw an aerial thrown to Ben Shaughnessy who drove the base line before finding Will Jewkes, who calmly tapped home, 3-0.

After the interval, the visitors added a fourth with a moment of individual brilliance, Greg Smith skipping through 2 defenders, before dispatching a flick top left corner. A minute later Ben Shaughnessy added to the total with a flick low into the bottom right.

Soon after, Shaughnessy added to his total following a solo drive into the D and firing the ball into the bottom corner. Basingstoke were then awarded a short corner, which was deflected into the roof of the net by an outstretched Will Jewkes, final score 7-0, Basingstoke top of the league.

Back at Down Grange the men’s third team played host to the City of Portsmouth. The hosts started slowly and were duly punished, conceding two sloppy goals in quick succession. After going two goals behind Basingstoke steadied themselves and started to create opportunities of their own. Jimmy Warner feeding Mark Easto for a one-on-one with the keeper, which Easto dispatched with a first time finish into the bottom corner.

Despite creating opportunities in the second half it appeared that Basingstoke were heading for a defeat. However, with only minutes remaining Jimmy Warner was on hand to tap the ball in at the back post, rescuing a point for the hosts and leaving the final score 2-2.

The men’s fourth team travelled to Fareham for a mid-table clash looking to end a recent losing streak. Despite dominating much of the pay in midfield, the visitors were unable to find the net in the first half. With 10 minutes to go Basingstoke thought they had broken the deadlock, only for the goal to be disallowed. Moments later the visitors were cruelly punished by a Fareham counter attack, which secured 1-0 victory for the hosts.

The fifth team hosted Haslemere and were under pressure straight from the whistle, however, some stout defending and sharp saves ensured the game remained tied 0-0 at half time.

Despite starting the second half brightly, Basingstoke found themselves a goal down following a Haslemere counter attack, but Basingstoke fought back. First Chris Jenkins scoring from a penalty flick and then Euan Rixson with a fine goal to make the final score 2-1.