Basingstoke 1, Wanderers 3,

A wonder goal from Ryan Sellers helped Wanderers pick up their second win of pre-season as they outclassed Basingstoke Town at the Soccer AM Stadium on Tuesday night.

Blues’ total domination of the first 45 minutes could have resulted in three or four goals, but instead they took a one goal lead into the break thanks to a Marcus Bean header.

Anthony Stewart then doubled the lead with a composed finished shortly after the restart before Sellers put them three up with a thunderbolt on his weaker foot from long range.  

The National League South outfit offered little threat but had something to celebrate when David Ray grabbed a consolation.

A welcome sight for Wanderers fans was that of Matt Ingram’s name on the team sheet, giving Blues fans a chance to see their number one in action for the first time since he limped off against Northampton in May.

The ‘keeper was a spectator early on and he saw his teammates nearly strike the opening blow with less than a minute on the clock when Aaron Amadi-Holloway headed Paul Hayes’ cross wide.

Wanderers dominated a first half of few chances and came close to going ahead when Bean met Joe Jacobson’s free-kick on the six-yard line, but could only watch in despair as his effort looped into the hands of Aaron Howe.

However, as the clock ticked past the half hour mark the midfielder did put Blues in front, combining once again with Jacobson to head home a corner.

The home side offered precious little, and as the half wore on Wanderers piled even more pressure on their opponents, coming close to adding to their tally on a number of occasions.

Jacobson’s set piece delivery provided further opportunities for Aaron Pierre and Anthony Stewart before Ryan Sellers struck the post with a header.

A moment of class from Amadi-Holloway – as he’ll be known this season – bought a superb one-handed save from Howe after a superb first touch set him up to drive a half-volley goalward from Michael Harriman’s cross.

Ingram endured a nervy moment at the start of the second half as he came for a cross, only to see it drift through his hands before the covering Sido Jombati got back to clear.

Stewart was bought in to replace the departed Alfie Mawson, and he showed signs that he may able to help replicate the former’s goal tally when he spun smartly on the edge of the box before sending a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

If the fans inside the ground thought they’d just seen a special goal then they were immediately treated to a strike of the highest calibre from Sellers.

The 20-year-old picked the ball up on the left before driving infield and unleashing a bullet of a shot with his weaker right foot. The ball dipped and swerved before striking the underside of the crossbar and bouncing over the line.

As the game reached its 65th minute, Basingstoke’s first effort on goal found the net as Ray planted a firm header past Ingram at the back post.

The rest of the match past without notable incident as Blues eased to a comfortable victory.

Wanderers: Ingram, Jombati (O’Nien), Jacobson (Bloomfield), Stewart, Pierre (Rowe), Harriman (Banton), Trialist (Trialist), Bean, Sellers, Holloway, Hayes (Kretzschmar)

Subs: Lynch, Thompson, Wood,