The Peacocks were forced to settle for their second successive home draw in the Evo-Stik League with a 0-0 stalemate against Basingstoke Town yesterday afternoon (1st September). The visitors may feel they deserved more after hitting the woodwork twice and looking more dangerous going forward while Town never really clicked in the final third.
A quiet start to the game was enlivened just past the quarter hour when home keeper Lloyd Irish couldn’t hold a cross and George Bennett crashed the loose ball off the crossbar. Ben Wright then glanced a header just wide while Irish denied Zidan Akers as Basingstoke pressed. The Peacocks meanwhile saw shots from Ollie Chamberlain and Ryan Brett saved by Colm McAdden either side of the interval. The Dragons again came closest to breaking the deadlock in the second half, Matt Buse heading off the line from Akers before Sam Deadfield drilled a left footer against the bar. Despite attempts from both sides to snatch a winner the game ended with honours even as the Peacocks now prepare for two cup ties in the coming week.
Reaction | coach Rob Dray commented: “It’s definitely a point gained today against a good side so credit to them for coming to us and showing attacking intention. We seemed to lack our usual work rate and intensity today until Rocky and Vealey came on, and gave the ball away too cheaply in their half. Most importantly, we kept a clean sheet as we can’t keep expecting to score two goals to be in the game in this division. However, we are six games in to a new division and still finding our way to a degree and sat in 4th position, so as much as there is a little disappointment from the players, we must realise that we won’t steamroll everybody who comes to the Viridor.”