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Basingstoke Town 5-0 Asford Town (Middlesex)
Match Report by Nick Wilson, image by Steve Gridley
Basingstoke cruised to their first home win of the season in magnificent style as an exhibition of finishing put on by Brad Wilson and George Reid ensured a 5-0 win over Ashford Town.
The Middlesex-based club came into the game having conceded just three league goals so far but were put to the sword on an afternoon in which Basingstoke nearly tripled that tally in one imperious ninety-minute spell.
After a quiet opening period, ‘Stoke broke through on 25 minutes as George Reid held off Clyde Ondo before sweeping a tidy left-footed finish across Fred Chapman. The hosts killed the game off with a quick double before half-time, Ezio Touray combined with Wilson to cut through the Ashford defence and allow Wilson to slot the ball past the onrushing Chapman before Touray’s glancing header sent Reid free down the right-hand side to finish from a tight angle.
Paul Strudley had gone through the first half without needing to make a save and Ashford were able to muster little more than long-range shots off target and weak efforts that the goalkeeper could comfortably field while Basingstoke continued to create chances at the other end. Touray had a shot blocked by Chapman as he raced through 1-on-1 while the visiting keeper also made an impressive save to deny Reid his hat-trick from a free kick.
The fourth goal arrived with 20 minutes to play and it was worth the wait. Neat footwork from substitute Marcio Neves saw him somehow escape three challenges and tee the ball up for Wilson to casually place a sublime curling effort into the top corner. His hat-trick was complete soon after, finishing off a one-touch move involving Neves and Touray with a perfectly placed shot around Chapman’s fingertips, while Ashford’s afternoon was compounded as the game edged towards stoppage time. Nash Doukoure scuffed a penalty against the post before having his rebound attempt disallowed by the referee.
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