Waders punished for wayward finishing at Basingstoke

The Waders had created an abundance of chances at home to Stratford the previous Tuesday but ended up on the losing side. How they didn’t beat Basingstoke is a mystery.

Things started great for Biggleswade, carving out a lead within four minutes. Rhys Hoenes went down the right, played the ball into the box and with a 180 turn Nicholas Bignall got his first goal for the Waders.

It was all Waders, Hoenes and Bignall the thorns in the side of the home defence. Basingstoke did not even muster a shot until seven minutes before half time when a pinpoint cross found the head of Aaron Jarvis for the simplest of chances at the near post, levelled the scores.

In the second period Waders again took up the gauntlet with Hoenes and Bignall getting in behind the defence but fluffing their lines with their efforts.

How many attempts went begging must have gone into double figures and the visitors were made to pay.

Basingstoke brought on sub Nana Owusu and, with his first touch of the ball and at pace, tracked the left touchline to fire in a cross that Artwell was grateful for at the far post to give the scoreline an unbelievable slant.

As the Waders tried to repair the damage, more chances went by and on 80 minutes Bignall was upended by a Basingstoke defender to give the Waders a lifeline.

The resulting penalty was delayed as first the referee wanted to yellow card the offender and the keeper Tokarczyk heeled the penalty spot, for which he received a yellow card.

With the time now ticking on to four minutes past the incident, Connor Hall hit the ball without conviction giving the keeper the easy job of dropping to his right to push the ball away.

In the dying minutes Biggleswade were their own worst enemies as ball after ball forward was catching players offside.

At the end Basingstoke had just three chances, Biggleswade a hatful, but putting the ball in the net is what counts.

Waders visit Stratford on Saturday.