Two goals from Liam Ferdinand helped Basingstoke Town to a 2-1 win over Hanwell Town on Tuesday (15 October 2024) night.
The start of the game at the Powerday stadium was delayed by 15 minutes due to traffic problems. At 8pm, Basingstoke kicked off without goalkeeper Simon Grant.
The shot stopper eventually arrived in the 16th minute and replaced Simon Dunn, with temporary goalkeeper Curtis Angell moving to right back.
Following the chaos, a Ferdinand goal either side of half-time left the visitors in control. However, Hanwell didn’t give up and Jordan Edwards’ goal on the hour mark led to a nervy finish for the visitors.
Basingstoke, entering the game fifth in the Southern League Premier South, started quickly as they looked to keep the ball away from stand in goalkeeper Angell.
The visitors kept possession well without scoring although Hanwell did have one opportunity to test Angell when Edwards was brought down on the edge of the box. The striker could only fire his free kick into the wall and behind for a corner.
In the 30th minute, a loose Hanwell pass found Basingstoke’s George Reid on the left. His low shot was saved by Sam Beasant, but Ferdinand was waiting to tap the rebound into an empty net.
Hanwell had a chance to equalise just before halftime when a looping cross from Dan Carr on the left found the head of Dwayne Duncan. The Hanwell defender’s header was well over the bar.
Hanwell manager Chris Moore opted to change his formation at the start of the second half. The injured Joe Wilson was replaced by Chris Regis and Rudi Pache moved into a back three with Duncan and Will Hall. Carr and Kameron English were now wingbacks.
Basingstoke still found space in the Geordie’s new system and could’ve increased their lead when Reid found himself one on one with Beasant once again.
This time Beasant saved brilliantly, and Hanwell were able to clear any rebound.
In the 56th minute a Hanwell freekick was headed straight back, sending Ferdinand clean through on goal. The Basingstoke striker fired the ball into the bottom left corner to double the visitors’ lead.
Hanwell got themselves back in the game 6 minutes later. Sutton Emerson, making his full home debut after joining Hanwell on a month loan from QPR, beat a Basingstoke defender and raced into the box.
He then squared the ball to Edwards who slotted the ball into the bottom left corner for his sixth goal of the season.
Hanwell were then pushing for an equaliser during the remainder of the game. Carr’s trickery found him some space on the left but his inviting cross across the goalmouth could not find a Geordie boot.
Emerson created Hanwell’s best chance of the game late on. The young wingers showed off his skill down the right and his low cross caused a goal mouth scramble. The ball then fell to Ezekiel Coker-Sonukan who could only hit the bar from close range.
The rest of the game fizzled out for another frustrating defeat for Hanwell, who drop to 15th in the Southern League Premier South table. On Saturday, they will travel to 5th placed Dorchester.
Hanwell: Beasant, Wilson (Regis 45), Carr, Pache, Duncan, Hall, English (Coker Sonukan 65), Woodcock, Pendlebury (Benyon 64), Edwards, Emerson (Orlando-Young 90+3)
Unused Substitutes: Boayke
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