Town still seeking first win as Basingstoke salvage point

STRATFORD Town are still looking for their first league win of the season after they shared the points in a 1-1 draw with Basingstoke at the DCS Stadium on Saturday, writes Bryan Hale.

Town had something to prove after their disappointing midweek loss to Redditch United and they began brightly with Basingstoke keeper Alex Tokarczyk saving from Kieren Westwood and Trey Brathwaite inside the opening ten minutes.

And their early pressure was rewarded when they look the lead on 15 minutes. Richard Gregory turned in the penalty area to shoot against a defender and Guy Clark reacted quickest to turn the rebound into the net from close range.

Tokarczyk kept his side in the game when he pulled off a tremendous double save in the 34th minute, pushing away a fiercely-struck Will Grocott free-kick and then recovering to turn behind Brathwaite’s follow-up effort.

Soon after, Stratford missed a great chance to go two up when Mike Taylor headed wide of an empty goal from Gregory’s cross after the Stratford skipper had beaten Tokarczyk to a long ball on the edge of the penalty area.

But it was Stratford keeper Niall Cooper who kept the home side’s lead intact a minute before the break when he brilliantly pushed out George Bennett’s spot-kick after Clark had handled the ball as it took an awkward bounce in the penalty area.

However, it was an error by Cooper which gifted Basingstoke their equaliser ten minutes into the second half when he fumbled Tamille Roache’s deep cross from the left and George Hallahan drilled the loose ball into the net.

Basingstoke then looked the better side, but they couldn’t make their possession count as both sides finished with a point apiece.

TOWN: Niall Cooper, Jordan Cullinane-Liburd (Jamie Sheldon 34), Kieren Westwood, Barry Fitzharris, Guy Clark, Warren Brooks, Simeon Tulloch (Liam Francis 21), Will Grocott, Mike Taylor (Edwin Ahenkorah 68), Richard Gregory (c), Trey Brathwaite. Unused subs: Emmitt Delfouneso, Dan Summerfield