A LAST minute-winner guided Basingstoke Town FC to Hampshire Cup glory, as they defeated AFC Bournemouth 1-0 in dramatic fashion at Fratton Park.
History was made last night (Wednesday, May 10) when Dan Brownlie's men won the treble for the first time in history.
'Stoke took on the development squad of Premier League side AFC Bournemouth in the Hampshire Senior Cup final.
The first half was very much a case of anything you can do, I can do just as well, with both teams evenly matched, creating chances but just lacking that cutting edge.
Bournemouth dominated much of the possession, with 'Stoke keeping their dream alive thanks to superb performances from goalkeeper Mark Scott, and the solid defensive efforts of Callum Winchcombe.
@basingstokegazette Basingstoke Town FC beat AFC Bournemouth 1-0 in the Hampshire Senior Cup Final at Fratton Park to complete the treble #Basingstoke #basingstoketownfc #afcbournemouth #Portsmouthfc #basingstokegazette #frattonpark #football #nonleague #champions ♬ Dog Days Are Over - Florence + The Machine
The 'Stoke keeper was forced into making some heroic first-half saves as he was constantly tested by the Bournemouth forward line, striker Daniel Adu-Adjei had a particularly notable performance.
Basingstoke's Luis Le Paih and Bradley Wilson provided sensational overlapping attacking play down the left flank, but a yellow and blue shirt was nowhere to be seen in the box.
The Dragons came roaring out in the second half and had the Cherries on the back foot almost immediately with an intense press as George Reid and skipper D'Andre Brown tried to work their way into the box, but the Bournemouth defence was seemingly unbreachable.
Shortly after, an incredible piece of play featuring nearly every 'Stoke player gave Bournemouth keeper Will Dennis his first real test, as he desperately clawed the ball away.
Bournemouth looked to punish Basingstoke later in the game, with a fast-paced counter-attack, but Ben Winterburn's goal-bound effort was cleared off the line by Billy Upton.
With six minutes of stoppage time added on, the game looked certain to end in a stalemate and head to penalties, but in the 95th minute, the Dragons' golden boot winner Bradley Wilson picked up a direct ball on the left flank, and cut inside on his right foot to slot the ball into the bottom corner in front of the 1,360 fans in the Fratton End.
Manager Dan Brownlie was thrilled with the result, he told the Gazette: "This has been the most remarkable season with the most remarkable group of men, and I couldn't be prouder to be their manager."
"It was a proper cup final, sometimes these sort of games get a bit untidy but both teams wanted to play. Perhaps we had to go a bit more direct than we would have liked but that shows the quality of the opposition, they are very technically gifted."
"Bournemouth were exceptional, some of those boys will make it, I think a few of them will go on to achieve big things so I'll make sure I keep the programme."
He added: "We should never get used to this feeling, it's a moment to savour, the perfect end to what has been the perfect season, I've never been involved in a better year of football and I've just fallen in love with this club."
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