Basingstoke League.

Basingstoke Royals moved a step nearer to the Premier Division Championship after winning a close midweek 3-2 win against Sherborne St John, while their rivals Rising Sun DC could only draw 2-2 with Tadley Calleva A and then called off in the return at Tadley on Saturday through lack of players. Sherborne gave a good performance against the leaders who took the lead after 25 minutes, a volley following a 40 free kick from Jamie Grove. Peter Dixon equalized five minutes later, but a good run by James McIntosh led to Nick Willcock restoring the lead and McIntosh then gave Royals a 3-1 interval lead. Dave Poynton then saved a penalty as Royals looked like building up a big score. The second half was much different with Sherborne better and although Alex Izzo did pull a goal back with a free kick, there was no further comeback.
On Saturday Sherborne traveled to nearby Bramley United and won 7-3. United had only nine men, but still gave the visitors a hard game. Adam Bartlett gave United the lead, but goals from Jared Moore, Spencer Champ and Dec Shuttleworth made it 3-1 at the break. Shuttleworth scored again to make 4-1 but United hit back with goals from Pat Callahan and Josh Harper. Three goals in the last ten minutes, through Cobi Judd and two from Alex Izzo, sunk United.
The midweek 2-2 draw in the Tadley looked to have all three points in the bag against Rising Sun with just one minutes left to play. They fell behind when Joe Richardson scored early on, but hit back with goals from Kye Theodore and Gary Harper and it was only in the 89th minute when Joe Harris netted the equalizer.
Welly Old Boys had their best result of the season when only losing 5-2 away to Hook in midweek. The Basingstoke A Cup winners went two goals ahead, through Aaron King and Dan Mellor. Abiola Kassim made it 2-1 in the 51st and although further goals from Tom Davies, Dan Mason and Will Hill penalty kick, Graham Jenkins came up with a second for the bottom club.

Division One ended in the most unsatisfactory position with both matches called off and this means the Runners Up Shield will go to Twenyten as North Warnborough 2014 called off their fixture against them. This is the fourth match running North warnborough have cancelled through lack of players. Third placed Hampshire Irons has also suffered with their fixture against Hook Reserves called off and had to play their North Hants May Cup Final on Tuesday not having played for month due to cancellations.

In Division Two Labour Club remain top after their 3-2 win at Herriard, but Basingstoke Athletic is closing fast and now looks favourites to take the title. Cameron George chipped keeper Jake Burrows for the lead after 27 minutes from 25 yards. Herriard leveled one minute into the second half with a 60 yard run, waltzing round five men on the way. In the 57th George scored his second from a penalty kick, but it was not until the 87th minute when Paul Gadsden pounced on a ball in the box after the Herriard defence failed to clear. A minute later a long throw from Stuart Minton fell to Stephen Wood who flicked on for Karl Buttle to slam the ball home. This was the final game of the season for Labour.
The midweek match between Bounty United and Basingstoke Athletic resulted in a 2-2 draw, goals from James Loundon and Matt Button for Athletic, with Mitchell Stokes and Aaron Parfitt replying for Bounty. Athletic had another close game against Preston Candover on Saturday when they ran off 4-3 winners. Preston went ahead through Paul Etheridge, Nathan Read put away a penalty to level, but Tom Green put Preston ahead again. Athletic made it 2-2 by the break when Ryan Evans took a pass from Matt Stillwell. Evans then scored a 30 yarder and Stillwell made it 4-2, before a late third, a penalty from Kyle Buckland gave Athletic an anxious last ten minutes. Athletic now have two matches remaining, both against Winklebury Wizards and a two points will make them certain Champions. Wizards are no push over as they proved last Saturday when beating Bounty United and so ended any hopes the cricketers had of honours. In the 20th minute Dan Goodyear played through for Ryan Watts, his shot hit the post, but Ben Clark followed up to net the rebound. In the 60th Alex Stevens closed down a defender and found Ryan Watts who scored the second. Scott Large played well at the back, clearing off the line and keeper Gavin Alexander pulled off a couple of good saves to keep the lead and it was extended when Matt Lowe beat the keeper from 40 yards out following a good pass from Conner Stratton.
AFC Berg are out of the bottom two following a 10-1 win over bottom of the table Sherborne Reserves, who had three differenced goalkeepers in the game. Strange to say there were no goals until the 30th when Shane West scored the first and although Conner Perrin equalized straight away, Berg crossed over 2-1 ahead with a second for West. Keeper Russ Hancock had a back injury and Manager Kevin Merritt took over. Berg ran riot after this with West netting four in all, two for Kieron Alleyne and singles for Richard and Ross McCoubrie, Kevin Beaumont and Spencer Kirby. Striker Dave Purt ended up as the third keeper Sherborne used.
Basingstoke United could only draw 1-1 with AFC Aldermaston A at Brighton Hill. Striker Kevin Flain was in the Aldermaston goal and made some good saves as the score remained goal less until the 50th minute. It was then that Aldermaston took a surprised lead through Tony Johnson. It took United just five minutes to level, Joe Cook, their scorer, his sixth since sighing in February. Aldermaston held out successfully after this for a point. .
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New Clubs wanted.
The Basingstoke & District Football League has vacancies in both Saturday ands Sunday Sections. Any new clubs wishing to join either should contact Tessa Ticehurst on 01256-460903 for Saturday football and Alan Blenkarn 01256-321076 for Sundays.
At the moment there are three Divisions in both sections.