Basingstoke Town 3 Northwood 1

BASINGSTOKE Town Reserves made up for the disappointment of being pipped to the league championship by winning the Suburban Challenge Shield final at Thatcham last Thursday.

It was never easy for Peter Gray's side in their last match of the season against a very good looking Northwood side.

When Basingstoke went two goals up in the opening 11 minutes, many felt this would be a walk-over.

A long throw from Toby Sumner, who had a fine game in midfield and provided most of the opportunities, sent a long throw into the box. Ashley Vine flicked on and Sean Gorman had an unchallenged finish from six yards out.

Sumner had a 30-yard drive tipped over the bar in the ninth minute then, two minutes later, his side were two goals ahead. Tinnoi Christie sent a pass over the top and the leaky Northwood defence allowed Gorman to nip behind them and lob over the 'keeper's head. This was Gorman's 12th goal in this competition.

Basingstoke had Scott Tarr in goal, as Clive Lyttle was abroad and Simon Arthur out with a broken jaw, but he was beaten when a lofted 50-yard pass found Craig Totton, who was 10 yards clear of the last defender, and he cooly controled and went through to beat the helpless 'keeper.

This seemed to give Northwood renewed hope and they began to get the better of things with Tarr having to rush out to clear before Jamie Mitchell missed the easiest of chances to level in the 35th minute.

Just before the break, Robbie Deacon hit a fierce drive that looked certain to regain the two-goal advantage but Northwood goalkeeper Danny Gladman blocked with his foot.

In the second half, Northwood, with the nippy Totton very dangerous, forced two good saves from Tarr, who denied Scott Fitzgerald and Adie Corcoran.

A let-off for Basingstoke came in the 57th minute when Totton laid on a great chance for Fitzgerald but his shot, from six yards out, hit under the bar and rebounded clear. For the next 10 minutes, the Middlesex side controlled things.

Basingstoke began to get over this bad spell, with Mark Williams, Vine and Steve Hemmings keeping a tighter reign and the chances returned for them. Deacon hit a shot wide, Gorman headed just over the bar while Danny Layton was busy pushing forward and taking advantage of the gaps that were appearing.

His shot on the turn whistled just over the bar then, in the fourth minute of added time, came the third goal. Simon Herbert, who had replaced Ian Dickens, pushed the ball to Layton, whose low cross found Robbie Deacon and the big striker, still with plenty to do, beat his man and then rounded the 'keeper to sew up the game.

The shield was presented by Suburban League chairman David Stanley. The players' awards will be presented at the league dinner on Friday at Sandown Park.

Basingstoke Town Reserves: Tarr, Hemmings, Williams, Foster, Vine, Dickens (sub Herbert), Toby Sumner, Layton, Gorman, Deacon, Christie. Subs (not used): Glover, Wallace, Berry, Zawadski.