Match Report: Reds Rue Stoppage-Time Repeat

Basingstoke Town 1-1 Uxbridge

“Time is an Illusion” So goes the famous quote from Albert Einstein, however Uxbridge did their best impression to disprove the eminent physicist as once again the Reds were forced to share the points after a 97th-minute penalty rescued a draw for Basingstoke - in a match they largely dominated

Cole Brown returned to the starting line up, with Billy Montague starting in place of Toby Nnadozie. The game opened at a frantic pace, with George Moore making an immediate impact in the 2nd minute, though his effort from the left side of the box flashed just wide of the post. Basingstoke responded with a warning of their own in the 11th minute when their Chieck Sylla directed a free header over the bar from a corner. Uxbridge though made the better chances, as Montague fired narrowly over on 20 minutes. The breakthrough for the visitors arrived on the half hour though, when Harry Rush setup Frank Keita for a header, which was parried by Simon Grant in the Basingstoke goal, however Nnams Nwachku was the quickest to react, tucking away the follow-up to give the visitors a deserved 1-0 lead. It almost doubled immediately, as Moore turned provider for Keita whose effort on the stretch cleared the bar. Before the break Moore again showed excellent physicality to outmuscle his marker only to see his shot fly high and wide.

HT 1-0

The second half saw Uxbridge create several "clear-cut" opportunities to put the game out of reach. In the 59th minute, Nwachuku found himself one-on-one with the keeper after a brilliant through ball, but his poked finish rolled agonisingly wide of the far post. Marco Underwood was called into action shortly after, producing a vital near-post save from a Basingstoke free kick to preserve the slim lead. It was shortly after this that Manager Danny Edwards, received his marching orders from the dugout, for allegedly delaying the restart from a throw. This didn't affect Uxbridge too much though as they remained in the ascendency. On 72 minutes Montague and Moore combined well as the ball dropped to Moore - he seemed to hesitate maybe expecting the whistle to go - it didn't - and he tamely lobbed the ball wide of the goal. Nwachuku again broke clear in the 84th minute, cutting inside his man, but the Basingstoke keeper produced a fine low save to keep the visitors alive. Uxbridge were almost caught napping soon after as a long ball evaded the defence, but Underwood was out smartly to snuff out any danger. With Cole Brown having left the field injured, the defensive lines were stretched - but they looked confident to hold on, however Uxbridge’s profligacy in front of goal was punished in the seventh minute of stoppage time as Sylla broke across the penalty area was brought down, and the referee pointed to the spot, James Clark converted the penalty to level the score at 1-1. There was still time for one final twist, as a late cross into the Reds box eluded the reaching studs of Sylla again leaving Uxbridge to wonder what might have been had earlier chances been converted. - not the first time I have written that this season, you might almost say time is repeating itself.

FT 1-1

Uxbridge: Underwood, Brown (Okorogheye), Bocarro, Fearn, Stepney (Tanner), Perez-Duah, Montague, Rush, Nwachuku, Moore, Keita (Boorn)