Report: Bashley 3-1 Kettering Town - Southern Premier

STAR MAN:
Rob Gradwell

FROM zero to hero in seven short days, Bashley fans just don’t know what to expect from Rob Gradwell.

The much-maligned striker’s abject display at Totton was the tip of an all-too-familiar iceberg, but his undoubted effort was finally matched with end product in this clash as he saved his side from an embarrassing defeat to basement boys Kettering Town.

Since scoring within a minute on his debut against Gosport Borough, the former Basingstoke forward has hardly wowed the crowd at Bashley Road.

And when he appeared from the bench with half an hour to play on Saturday, questions were asked as the hosts were in command but still seeking the killer touch.

Visiting centre half Henry Eze had been a vital component in Kettering’s ability to stifle the hosts, but the man mountain’s life became much more difficult as soon as Gradwell entered the fray and it became a matter of time before Bash blew the house down.

The Poppies dominated the opening 45 minutes, making the best of a sticky pitch, playing with verve and vigour against Frank Gray’s men who were clearly devoid of confidence.

Returning loanee Lewis Wilson added thrust to Town’s attack, showing strength and pace against Bashley’s backline.

The Northampton Town protégé’s snapshot on the turn forced Bash keeper Stuart Moore into a fine low save as early as the fourth minute before catching Ian Richardson in possession to draw another flying stop from the on-loan Reading custodian.

Both teams looked edgy and prone to error, but Kettering’s more incisive play saw them deservedly take the lead when Wilson latched onto Eze’s long ball, outmanoeuvring Richardson and stretching to prod beyond the on-rushing Moore.

The visitors gradually sat deeper once they got their noses in front but try as they might, everything Bash threw into the penalty area was comfortably dealt with by Eze with the home team looking visibly drained.

Bashley upped the ante after the restart but efforts on goal were speculative rather than spectacular as Josh Casey drew routine saves from Yannick Nlate.

That was, of course, until the hero of the hour arrived, pulling Eze all over the place with the rest of Kettering’s backline crumbling.

The space the burly front-man created allowed the likes of Casey and Charlie Knight to get on the ball and the former Salisbury City duo combined for Knight to test Nlate with a fizzing effort across goal before Gradwell’s header was hacked off the line by Chris Logan.

The leveller wasn’t far away though and it was that man Gradwell who made the breakthrough with some sublime skill, taking a great touch from Casey’s ball before playing a one-two with James Stokoe and sending a chip sailing over Nlate to equalise.

There was only going to be one winner from here as Logan again saved his side by denying Stokoe on the goal line, but Kettering never truly cleared and Knight cut in from the left to drill across Nlate, this time finding enough power to beat the on-loan Stoke City keeper.

Kettering still had their chances with Wilson shooting tamely at Moore and Ben Ford’s chip landing just over the crossbar as Bash threatened to implode.

But the persistence of Gradwell paid dividends again late on as he chased a lost cause, dispossessing Eze in the corner and rolling the ball back for Casey to cross for Stokoe whose far post volley settled the contest.

Bash will be hoping to see more of Gradwell’s great side. A meagre return of three goals in eight winless matches was suddenly matched in 14 second half minutes to hand Gray’s men a seven point cushion over the Southern Premier’s relegation places.

With the way Bash have battled in recent weeks, the size of that cushion surely depends on the goals for column.

Over to you Rob.

*BASHLEY boss Frank Gray shares his post match thoughts with the Bournemouth Echo here. 

BASHLEY: Moore, Strickland, Knight, Finlay, Middleton (Oliver 69), Richardson, Casey, Colson, Stokoe, Gamble, Hill (Gradwell 61). Unused subs: Stephenson, Gazzard, Kearn (g/k). 

Goals: Gradwell 74, Knight 77, Stokoe 88.

KETTERING TOWN: Nlate, Dossou (Hilliere 55, Ghaysi 66), Fox, Logan, Eze, Johnston, Noubissie, Hicks, Griffiths, Wilson, Ford. Unused subs: Pitharas, King, Muzvimbiri.

Goal: Wilson 28.

STAR MAN: Rob Gradwell (Bashley)

Tough call with Knight and Casey showing creativity as well as work rate and performing well, but Gradwell made the difference. Bashley’s failure to score goals seemed set to haunt them at a time they could least afford it until Gradwell came in. Always works hard and nice to see things finally click into place for the big man. 

Report: Bashley 0-0 Cambridge City - Southern Premier

STAR MAN: Bashley's
Gary Middleton

Substance very nearly trumped style in a game of cat and mouse between Bashley and Cambridge City, but in truth any more than a share of the spoils would have been a travesty for these shot-shy sides.

The Lilywhites, on the back of five away wins out of six in the Southern Premier, produced flowing football at times but drew just one save from Bash custodian Stuart Moore as the hosts harassed and harried in the style expected from boss Frank Gray.

And the New Forest outfit arguably had the better chances to win despite spending much of the night chasing the ball, though their Achilles Heel of failing to find the net continues to stifle progress.

The Scot will be pleased with his side’s sixth clean sheet of the campaign, but a seventh home league match without scoring offers the biggest reason for Bashley’s perilous position.

More familiar strike pairing Mark Gamble and James Stokoe handed Gray’s team more punch in the final third, but the defensive shift that Bashley’s goal-getters had to put in amongst City’s slick passing meant opportunities were limited.

Had Gamble managed to catch Cambridge cold in the second minute it could have been so different, but after latching onto George Colson’s throughball, the former Farnborough man saw his low drilled effort fizz wide of the far post.

City soon recovered and signalled their intent by pressing the hosts back for long spells with Mitchell Bryant at the thick of the action while Ieuan Lewis’ deflected effort forced Moore to adjust his dive and make his solitary stop of the night.

Quite how Adam Marriott missed with a far post header from Jackson Ramm’s drilled cross midway through the first half is anyone’s guess, but it epitomised the kind of evening City were in for.

If it wasn’t wayward finishing, it was brave Bash defending as Matt Finlay, a late replacement for the injured Tim Stephenson, denied Marriott a one-on-one opportunity with Moore.

At the other end, visiting keeper Zac Barrett had trouble with a few routine balls before clawing Colson’s far post header away from Charlie Knight’s cross on the stroke of half time.

Both sides found another gear and played at a higher tempo after the restart, but it was Cambridge who continued to keep the ball well and gradually pressed Bash back further and further.

The hosts were almost caught out when Ian Richardson sold Moore short with a backpass, but the young Reading loanee blocked at the feet of Marriott before Gary Middleton cleared any lingering danger and Bash nearly reaped the rewards of their resolute rearguard action in the final ten minutes.

Gamble’s angled effort drew a fine low save from Barrett before Stokoe’s flicked header beat the City stopper but bounced just wide of the far post as the hosts tried to complete something of a smash and grab.

Two teams with two very different styles ended this match with same problem – both goalkeepers had far too little to do – but it is hard to imagine that either manager will be too disheartened with a solid display and a point that may yet have a bearing on whether they meet in this division again next season.  

*BASHLEY boss Frank Gray gives the Bournemouth Echo his post match thoughts here. 

BASHLEY: Moore, Strickland, Oliver (Knight 10), Finlay, Middleton, Richardson, Casey, Colson, Stokoe, Gamble, Hill. Unused subs: Gradwell, Foster, Gazzard, Kearn (g/k). 

CAMBRIDGE CITY: Barrett, Ramm, Blanchett, Theobald, Chaffey, Nightingale, Lewis, Prada, Bryant (Midgley 78), Marriott, Fuller. Unused subs: Cambridge, Cleaver, Pepper.

STAR MAN: Gary Middleton (Bashley)

As always, in the right place at the right time, winning headers, charging down shots and more importantly, mopping up behind when loose balls dropped in the penalty area. Narrowly beats Matt Finlay to the award on a night where all of Bashley’s back three did so much to stifle City’s attack. 

Report: AFC Totton 2-0 Bashley - Southern Premier

IN THE THICK OF IT:
Totton's Stefan Brown (centre)

THE result and the way it came about may have been true to form but it could, and at times should, have been so different as Bashley slipped to derby day defeat at AFC Totton.

The way the visitors went about their task and rattled their local rivals was less predictable than the final outcome, though in the end, Bash were architects of their own downfall from the outset.

While former Bash boss Steve Riley, now in charge at the Testwood Stadium, appears to be getting the balance right, at least at home, the visiting fans baulked at a Bash selection that ultimately didn’t work.

With just two points dropped in nine home matches, the Stags chief immediately bolstered his striking options in the week he found out that AFC Bournemouth loanee Jordan Chiedozie would be on the sidelines for a few weeks.

And the move to bring back fans favourite Stefan Brown on loan from Basingstoke instantly paid dividends with Totton’s livewire creating space on the left, swinging in a cross for strike partner Richard Gillespie to cleverly peel away from his marker and glance home at the far post.

Bash, winless in six matches and having not played for four weeks because of postponements, did not give in, but their agonising lack of fire power left the men in yellow tearing their hair out after largely dominating the rest of the half.

Striker Mark Gamble lined up in midfield while burly front-man James Stokoe warmed the bench with winger Charlie Knight partnering an out-of-sorts Rob Gradwell in attack.

The visitors passed the ball neatly on a tricky surface and frequently rattled the Stags defence.

But Gradwell, try as he might, lacked the sharpness to really get at Ross Bottomley and Jamie Whisken and failed to provide the option at the end of Bashley’s decent moves.

Gray’s charges could well have levelled before the break, indeed it was the least they deserved, but their opportunities came from set pieces with defender Gary Middleton offering Bashley’s biggest goal threat.

The reliable stopper, who lashed home an injury time winner against Bedworth in September, thumped an early corner over the crossbar before being frustrated by a series of unbelievable blocks and saves on the half hour.

Brad Strickland’s bobbling centre was lashed towards goal before being half cleared by Bottomley, a feat that the ex-Bash defender repeated moments later with Middleton nailed on to score the rebound, but Totton keeper Gareth Barfoot clawed the effort away despite being sat on the ground when the fierce drive came in.

Barfoot came to the rescue to stop Knight scoring directly from a corner while at the other end, Brown’s dipping half volley was spectacularly saved by Stuart Moore on the stroke of half time.

Totton survived the onslaught and came out with renewed solidarity after the restart with the game gradually losing its sting.

Bash could have levelled when Barfoot dropped a routine ball but neither Strickland nor nor impressive debutant George Colson could take advantage at the far post.

Brown’s energy kept the hosts ticking over in attack as Gradwell cut an increasingly isolated figure at the other end and Bash ran out of steam.

Knight made space for himself to connect with Ian Oliver’s cross from the left but it summed his and Bashley’s afternoon up when his close range header ended up closer to the corner flag than the goal.

And with 12 minutes to go, the match was put to bed in fine fashion when Jonathan Davies unleashed a superb volley from the edge of the area that sailed past Moore, finding the top corner following Whisken’s knockdown.

The game had gone by the time substitute James Stokoe was pushed up front, but even then he gave a glimpse of what might have been with smart control of a throughball and tidy finish ruled out by a marginal offside decision.

Even with stark contrasts in form, the margins are tight in the Southern League Premier Division. With Bashley now three points off the relegation places, having scored two goals in their last six matches, fans will be crying out to see the likes of Gamble and Stokoe in more advanced roles after the alternative plan failed in somewhat tepid fashion.

*TOTTON boss Steve Riley talks to the Bournemouth Echo about AFC Bournemouth loanees Baily Cargill and Jordan Chiedozie as well as the match and Bashley's plight here. 

*A FULL range of match photos from photographer Denis Murphy can be found here. 

AFC TOTTON: Barfoot, R Hill, Cargill, Bottomley, Whisken, Brown (Rudd 85), Pettefer, Davies (Roberts 79), Coutts, Gillespie (Whitley 66), Gosney. Unused subs: Oldring, R Casey (g/k).

Goals: Gillespie 3, Davies 78. 

BASHLEY: Moore, Strickland, Oliver, Stephenson, Middleton, Richardson, J Casey (T Hill 82), Colson, Gradwell (Finlay 76), Gamble (Stokoe 65), Knight. Unused subs: Foster, Kearn (g/k).

STAR MAN: Stefan Brown (AFC Totton)

Could do no wrong on his return. It may not have been his, or indeed Totton’s, most polished performance, but has come in after not getting game time at Basingstoke and showed few signs of rustiness. Kept going all game and provided the attacking impetus for the hosts to seal an important win. 

Betting blog: Southern Premier - Saturday 2nd February 2013

DESPITE last week's success, the form in the Southern League Premier Division looks less clearcut this Saturday.



There is one stand-out fixture on the card with AFC Totton at home again. The Stags have racked up eight wins out of nine matches at the Testwood Stadium as Steve Riley's side take on his former club Bashley. 


In the reverse fixture, Bash were eased aside 3-0 in November and Totton look good value to complete a double at 5/6 despite the visitors' decent away form. Frank Gray's charges have not played for four weeks and are winless in six matches.


Beyond that, finding certainties looks a lot tougher this week though, so we're looking to the division's form team, Stourbridge, for inspiration. 


After trouncing Hitchin 4-1 last week, the promotion chasing Glassboys have a tougher test with the unpredictable Bedford Town visiting Amblecote.


Braver punters can add them (3/4) to play-off chasers Arlesey Town (3/5), who host a St Albans side whose form is beginning to drift, and Barwell (6/11) who, despite some patchy home form, should prove too strong for Hitchin Town in the battle of the Canaries. 


TOP TIP: The safe bet is a sizeable single on Totton before the odds are cut, or take all four teams for odds of nearly 7/1.

New website - Bashley FC

NEW WEBSITE: Bashley FC

BASHLEY FC have today launched their new website on the Pitchero network in conjunction with theonionsack. 


The new site can be found here: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bashleyfc/


If your club or organisation would like any help with launching a new site or with press releases and taking care of current web material, please contact us for a chat about cost effective solutions to improving your web and social media profile. 

News: Bashley loan Pompey midfielder Colson for a month

BASHLEY BOUND:
George Colson

BASHLEY have secured the services of Portsmouth youngster George Colson on a month's loan ahead of this weekend's trip to Barwell. 


Colson, 19, made his Pompey debut in the League Cup against Plymouth Argyle before spending a a two month loan spell with Dorchester Town. 


The attacking midfielder goes straight into the Bash squad for tomorrow's trip to Barwell in the Southern Premier. The Canaries won the reverse fixture 5-0 in September.


*The story for the Bournemouth Echo can be found here, as well as a preview of tomorrow's match. 

Betting blog: Southern Premier - Saturday 26th January 2013

IN the first of a new column theonionsack takes a look at betting in the Southern League Premier Division and picks the hot tips for the forthcoming weekend’s action.

Despite the weather forecast being pretty grim for most fixtures, we’ve plucked four matches out for potential profit this week with some of the less obvious selections looking the best bet.

There may not be a lot between AFC Totton and St Neots Town in the league table, but with the Saints’ form plummeting and Steve Riley’s charges winning seven of their last eight outings at the Testwood Stadium the Stags are great value for a home win at 11/10.

We should get two more home wins from promotion chasing clubs in the Midlands with Barwell, on the back of three straight wins, hosting a Bashley side who are winless in six and the Canaries won 5-0 at Bash back in September. Elsewhere, high-flying Stourbridge welcome strugglers Hitchin Town. Both are odds on (Barwell 4/7, Stourbridge 4/9) but added to our final selection, the odds add up to nearly 9/1.

Cambridge City, who are 11/10 to win at Frome Town make up the quartet. The hosts are without a win at The Aldersmith Stadium in six matches while the Lilywhites have won six out of eight away games with the only blots on their copybook being narrow defeats at Hemel and Barwell, bothcurrently in the top five.

We’re avoiding the top two this week as Leamington travel to an in-form Arlesey Town and Hemel host improving Weymouth. Elsewhere, Chesham’s form is too good to discount as they travel to Gosport Borough who top the form table.

TOP TIP: A cheeky tenner on those four returns just shy of £100 with Bet365 at the current odds, but get on it quickly if you’re going to, the odds are getting shorter pretty quickly.

*Prices correct at time of publication. 

Southern Premier: Bashley battling back as Saints suffer

DOUBLE: Bash striker
Mark Gamble

BASHLEY moved back into the top of an increasingly tight Southern League Premier Division and to within three points of the play-offs with a third straight victory over St Albans City.

Frank Gray’s men have forced their way up the table while the Saints have hit troubled waters and are winless in five.

Chairman Ian Ridley left after disagreeing with an increase to admission prices with manager David Howell quickly dismissed after. The Saints board cited poor results but Howell hit back saying it was down to budget cuts.

A matter of weeks ago, this result may have looked unlikely, but Bash grabbed a deserved 2-0 victory with both sides seemingly heading in opposite directions. Bash striker Mark Gamble grabbed both of the goals.

*The report focussing on Bashley’s revival in the Bournemouth Echo can be found here. 

Report: Bashley 0-1 Newport IOW - Hampshire Snr Cup R2

FRANK TALK: Gray wants more
from his Bashley players.

FRANK Gray called on Bashley’s players to fight for their futures after crashing out of the Hampshire Senior Cup following a 1-0 home defeat to Wessex League club Newport Isle of Wight.

A match of few chances at Bashley Road was settled in Port’s favour thanks to Tom McInnes’ strike nine minutes from time. Ross Gregory’s crossfield pass was collected by Kyle Lever for McInnes to plunder the only goal of the game with a downward header from close range.

Newport had the better of the opening half an hour but Bash battled back and established a foothold in the game.

James Stokoe’s diving header drew a full stretch save from Gary Streeter before the break while the hosts were hesitant in attacking areas after the interval with Tom Hill, Josh Casey and Matt Finlay guilty of dallying and wasting openings.

The visitors weathered the storm and rallied with Mark Augustos forcing Stewart Kearn into a low save before substitute John McKee dragged a shot wide with the goal gaping.

The goal eventually came, though, with McInnes’ strike quickly followed by McKee pelting the post as Newport grabbed the victory their slightly more incisive play deserved.

It left Bash out of three cup competitions and without a goal on home soil in 449 minutes of action, prompting Gray to look for more squad reinforcements.

The Bash boss said: “We have to look at things and change it round a bit. We had a few players out but the side should still have been strong enough to win the match.

“We need a little more strength in the middle of the park as we haven’t dominated through the middle as much as we would like to. Maybe we have to sacrifice playing some football to get more strength into the side.

“The only way you get through a run like this is by working hard, there is no magic solution. The lads who we don’t feel are working as hard as they can are the ones that will have to move on.

“It is very difficult to put fight, heart and spirit into a player. Some players are more motivated than others and you have to get the lads with the right attitude. First and foremost at this level you look for a bit of desire and the football almost becomes secondary.”

BASHLEY: Kearn, Strickland, Oliver, Vokes, Middleton, Richardson, Casey, Hill, Stokoe, Gradwell (Gamble 74), Finlay (Foster 74).

Unused subs: Gazzard, Cooper.

NEWPORT IOW: Streeter, Gregory, Oatley, Butt (McKee 63), Ovnik, Fleming, Powell, J Rayner, McInnes, Lever, Augustos.

Unused subs: McDonaghy, D Rayner, Simpkins.

Goal: McInnes 81.

STAR MAN: John McKee (Newport IOW)

Newport were a solid and workmanlike side, but this was a poor match with little quality until an inspired substitution did enough to gradually prize Bashley’s defence open. McKee offered pace in wide areas which proved decisive. The winger may have shown better quality on the ball at times but his impact was enough to make the difference. 

Report: Bashley 0-2 Leamington - Southern Premier

MATT FINISH: Dodd celebrates
his opener for Leamington

HALF a season unbeaten, not a bad response to an eleven match winless run for Leamington who ground out their latest success at Bashley.

Since losing this fixture last season the Brakes have gone 21 matches without defeat. Nine draws in that time along with some disappointing cup defeats suggests they haven’t been wiping the floor with everyone, but the knack of getting points from games without playing that well is starting to make the rest of the division take note.

And so they should. Paul Holleran’s side were never in danger of wreaking the kind of havoc that Barwell did at Bashley Road, but equally the destiny of the points never looked in doubt.

Leamington’s assured control of this match always inspired confidence among the vocal away following as Bash, for all their endeavour, rarely looked threatening. Despite improving on recent home performances, they never had the quality to match their high flying visitors.

Bashley were at arm’s length for the first 20 minutes but went closest to opening the scoring in that time, Charlie Knight’s swirling effort just clearing the crossbar, but that only jolted the Brakes into gear as Matt Dodd stung Stuart Moore’s palms with a fierce drive at the other end.

It proved to be a prelude to the opener, though, as the former Sutton Coldfield Town winger eased the ball home at the far post from Tom Berwick’s low centre after Stephan Morley had played the front man down the left.

Leamington were almost caught cold as Brad Strickland fired across goal but the former AFC Bournemouth youngster, playing in a more advanced midfield role, got caught in two minds as his low effort evaded Tom Hill and crept wide of the far post.

On the rare occasion that debutant ‘keeper Niall Cooper failed to get distance on a punched clearance, he did well to recover and charge down another Hill effort, preventing Bashley from levelling before half time.

As the match approached the hour mark, Strickland wasted the chance of the day, skewing horribly wide from ten yards before Andrew Jenkinson saw his shot bravely blocked by James Mace.

That was as good as it got for Bashley who kept plugging away but couldn’t find the zest or energy to force their way through a composed Leamington defence, marshalled superbly by Liam Daly who won everything in his own penalty area before nearly doubling the lead at the other end.

With less than 20 minutes to play, the former Redditch United and Solihull Moors defender saw his downward header from Sam Adkins’ inswinging free kick hacked off the line by Ian Richardson before Ian Oliver cleared Bashley’s lines.

Morley crossed for substitute Lee Moore to head over the bar late on, but a deserved second duly arrived as Dodd slipped the ball to another substitute, Alex Taylor, to stride inside and beat Stuart Moore at his near post.

Leamington will feel they can play better while Bash will take the positives from a much improved display, but the team that was not at its best won 2-0. The league table does not lie.

*Bashley boss Frank Gray’s post match reaction along with the match report from the Bournemouth Echo can be found here.

Photos

BASHLEY: S Moore, Bell, Oliver, Strickland, Middleton, Richardson, Casey (Gradwell 63), Hill, Stokoe (Foster 80), Jenkinson, Knight.

Unused subs: Vokes, Finlay, Kearn (g/k).

LEAMINGTON: Cooper, Mace, Morley, Magunda, Hood, Daly, Dodd, Chilton (Husband 73), Berwick (L Moore 66), Johnson (Taylor 83), Adkins.

Unused subs: Naylor, Tiff.

Goals: Dodd 27, Taylor 87.

STAR MAN: Liam Daly (Leamington)

There were many strong performances from the visitors with young goalkeeper Niall Cooper proving his worth and Tom Berwick working hard up front. Matt Dodd was a constant thorn in Bashley’s side, but Daly edges it for winning everything he had to and then some. When Bash did manage to stretch the Brakes, Daly slotted into position to cover, charging down shots and heading balls away to calm everything down. His presence was felt at both ends of the field. A mature display from a player who seems to finally have settled at the New Windmill. 

Report: Bashley 0-4 Poole Town - FA Trophy 1st Qual Rd replay

HAT-TRICK HERO:
Carl Preston

ANOTHER heavy Bashley defeat may have followed the loss of the opening goal, but this time it was as much about Carl Preston’s virtuoso performance for Poole Town as it was the host’s capitulation.

But that and the fact the losing margins are getting smaller will be scant consolation for the Bash faithful.

Shipping six against Hemel and five against Barwell was bad enough, but to lose so comprehensively to lower league opposition and local rivals will really stick in the throat for the New Forset outfit.

Again, this was a solid enough performance from Bash until they conceded, but once the Dolphins had their opener the host’s resistance quickly disintegrated.

That said there was plenty of force behind the gust that blew the house down as Preston’s hat-trick marked a fearsome return to form for the former AFC Bournemouth youngster.

A scrappy opening half an hour had little tempo with Bashley creating two half chances, Matt Finlay’s stretch was not enough to connect with a loose ball at the far post before James Stokoe’s cool control and smart turn was wasted with a tame finish.

In truth, though, Poole’s game plan worked effectively as they controlled the game with a quiet authority before a moment of magic ultimately decided the destiny of this tie.

Preston was alive to nip in behind Josh Casey and get to the byline in the 32^nd minute, working the perfect amount of space to curl the ball across Stuart Moore and find the bottom far corner.

Four minutes later, Preston almost added a second that would have rivalled Gareth Bale’s solo effort for Spurs in Milan two years ago – a mazy run from the half way line left Brad Strickland and Ian Richardson for dead but Moore raced off his line to smother the low effort.

Ragged Bashley soon conceded a second though with pacy Preston at the hub of the home side’s panic, darting down the left and crossing for Gary Middleton to scuff into his own net from the uncomfortable position of facing his own goal.

A slick move just after the hour provided the third with Adam Kelly and Karim Benssaouda zipping the ball around statues with Preston rounding Moore to coolly slot home.

Poole’s persistent predator earned a shot at his hat-trick nine minutes from time by further terrorising Richardson, drawing a handball from the former Totton stopper as he tried in vain to stop a cross from the left – Preston despatched the spot kick to Moore’s left with aplomb.

Ian Oliver and Pearce Farren entered the fray for Bashley and added some endeavour – the two substitutes combined for Farren to clip the frame of the goal late on, but that didn’t mask the problems facing Frank Gray at the moment.

He needs to pick his players up and fast – the goals are flying in at an alarming rate as soon as Bash concede. Poole, however, will be pleased to get through a tie they were so close to losing first time around – this was the type of form everyone expects from Tom Killick’s men and there would have been many Premier Division teams struggling to contain them on this kind of form.

BASHLEY: Moore, Smith, Casey, Strickland, Middleton (Oliver 70), I Richardson, Finlay, Hill, Stokoe (Farren 77), Jenkinson, Knight.

Unused subs: Gazzard, Vokes, Kearn (g/k).

POOLE TOWN: Hutchings, Baines, Spetch, Emmerson, Walker, Dibba (S Richardson 66), Burbidge, Devlin, S Brown (Benssaouda 50), Preston, Kelly (Wilson 79).

Unused subs: O’Donnell, T Brown (g/k). 

Goals: Preston 32, 61, 81(p), Middleton 42(og).

STAR MAN: Carl Preston (Poole Town)

It was always a matter of when rather than if Preston would find his form again as both Poole and their talented wideman have yet to hit top gear this season – until now. It is no coincidence that one of the Dolphins’ best displays this season came on a night when everything went right for their key man. Poole were imperious and unstoppable with one man taking them from stoic to sensational – Carl Preston.

Report: Poole Town 1-1 Bashley - FA Trophy 1st Qual Rd

LATE GOAL: Benssaouda

KARIM Benssaouda’s last ditch equaliser gave this FA Trophy tie an all too familiar finish as Poole Town rescued a replay with local rivals Bashley.

Bash suffered late heartache in the FA Cup, losing a 90^th minute goal to draw 1-1 with Gosport Borough three weeks ago before controversially losing the replay in the now famous ‘phantom goal’ incident.

And with Poole, who went into the game boasting a 100% home record, trailing their Southern Premier visitors by a single goal, there was an air of inevitability about the Dolphins’ leveller at the death.

Tatnam boss Tom Killick has readily admitted that his side have yet to sparkle this season, but have still ground out the necessary results, especially on home soil.

So despite their average-at-best showing in what was anything but a ding-dong derby, the draw was not surprising or undeserved.

The lower league hosts went into the clash as favourites with a three point lead at the top of the Southern South & West while Bashley sit second from bottom in the Premier Division, higher league status that just eluded Poole in the play-offs at the end of last season.

The Dolphins played with confidence and made the early running, but it was Bash who created the most presentable openings in a goalless first half.

The visitors felt they should have had a penalty on 16 minutes when debutant Andrew Jenkinson’s throughball was handled by Will Spetch, but referee Mark Lawrence infuriated Bash boss Frank Gray by awarding a free kick on the edge of the penalty area for an offence that both sides acknowledged was inside the box.

Charlie Knight was at the hub of Bashley’s attacks, providing the ammunition for James Stokoe to miss a sitter from five yards midway through the first half.

However, Bash were forced to defend in numbers and were often indebted to another new face, goalkeeper Stuart Moore, who caught several testing crosses under severe pressure from the host’s attack.

Benssaouda dispossessed Brad Strickland but shot across the face of goal before Carl Preston hit the post as Poole finish the first 45 with a flourish.

The interval, however, came at the wrong time for the Dolphins who failed to settle at all in the second half and Bashley took full advantage four minutes after the restart.

Giant defender Ian Richardson pressured Marvin Brooks into flicking a header towards his own goal from Josh Casey’s free kick and left ‘keeper Nick Hutchings stranded as the ball looped into the net.

Poole had their own penalty appeal waved away moments later when Gary Middleton appeared to wrestle Michael Walker to the ground, but Bash were in the ascendency and could have wrapped the tie up in the final fifteen minutes.

Firstly, an unmarked Knight headed Tom Hill’s cross over at the far post before Stokoe shot tamely into Hutchings’ arms when one-on-one with four minutes to go.

Those misses set up a grandstand finish with two efforts scrambled off the Bashley line in a goal mouth melee.

But the hosts were not to be denied as marauding full back Keith Emmerson burst from his own half to the edge of the penalty area, seeing his low shot well parried by the unfortunate Moore who could do nothing to stop Benssaouda’s rebound.

Both bosses had differing views on the performance levels at full time, which is unsurprising on current form. 

The draw was a fair result though, and it is back to Bashley Road on Tuesday night with the incentive of a winnable tie at home to Didcot Town for the victors.  

POOLE TOWN: Hutchings, Baines (S Brown 69), Spetch, Emmerson, Walker, S Richardson (Wilson 58), Kelly (Burbidge 77), Devlin, Benssaouda, Preston, Brooks. 

Unused subs: O’Donnell, T Brown (g/k).

Goal: Benssaouda 90. 

BASHLEY: Moore, Smith, Casey, Strickland, Middleton, I Richardson, Finlay (Oliver 80), Hill, Stokoe, Jenkinson, Knight. 

Unused subs: Gazzard, Farren, Vokes, Kearn (g/k).

Goal: Brooks(og) 49.

STAR MAN: Stuart Moore (Bashley)

In what was not the most inspiring of football matches, Moore withstood the pressure piled on by Poole's big hitters on an important afternoon between the sticks for the Reading youngster. Making his debut in the heat of a local derby, in an FA competition, is not easy for a young goalkeeper, but his bravery from the outset saw him command his area well. Despite Benssaouda taking the plaudits late on, Moore's impressive contribution should not be overlooked.