Post by martinfrench on Feb 16, 2024 15:35:09 GMT
Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Poole Town vs Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 17th February 2024 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Black & Gold Stadium, School Lane, Poole. BH15 3JR
Poole Town (The Dolphins), Avg 2023-24 Home Att 522
Two weeks since our last league game, that impressive win at Walton & Hersham, we move from playing the Swans to visiting the Dolphins tomorrow afternoon.
We played Poole, back in mid-October, winning 4-2 against what was a strong Dolphin side at the time, with a brace of goals for Dan Rowe, one for Bradley Wilson and a late goal by Noah Chengun that confirmed the win.
Our Opponents
The Dolphins, are managed by Matt Tubbs, who was a player/Manager at Bashley, before joining Poole. A striker during his playing career at Dorchester initially, then a number of years at Salisbury, before starting his league career at AFC Bournemouth, which included stints at Portsmouth, Crawley & Rotherham Utd.
The Dolphins schedule has always been affected by its inability to get games played at their home ground, and this year is no exception, having played just eleven times, similar to the sorry state Plymouth Parkway are in. The Dolphins have lost their last five league games, and have not scored in their last three, and they now currently sit in eleventh place, with a league record of Pld 26, Won 12, Drawn 2, Lost 12 with 38 pts. Their leading goalscorer was experienced striker Tony Lee, who had found the net nineteen times this season, but he left this week to join AFC Totton. They did re-sign Jake Scrimshaw as cover, who has vast experience with the club over the years. Their other main striker is well-known Toby Holmes, who played against us whilst at Dorchester & Wimborne Town. Holmes also played for Taunton Town before arriving at Poole Town two seasons ago. He has added thirteen goals this season. They also have Luke Pardoe, who initially joined from AFC Bournemouth on loan before signing permanently after a short spell in the US.
The midfield contains the experienced Wes Fogden, who is reported as a hard-working and skilful midfielder, and is in second season at Poole, but was an important part of Eddie Howe’s AFC Bournemouth side. He then joined Portsmouth on loan, before spending a number of years at Havant & Waterlooville. Fogden has three goals this season. Cameron Murray, initially joined Poole on loan, after spending a number of seasons at Dorchester, and then Weymouth after moving south in 2018. Murray has two goals this season. Winger Kyran Samadi, joined from Eastleigh’s academy last August, and has already impressed, adding three goals. Local-boy Luke Nippard, started his career through the youth ranks at AFC Bournemouth, before joining the Dolphins last June from Weymouth.
In defence will be there captain Jamie Whisken, who has been at the club since the 2013-14 season after leaving Totton. Harvey Wright will likely line up as one of the centre-backs, having been in Poole’s youth ranks, he has spent time at Christchurch and Hamworthy, before joining in June 2023. Wright has added three goals this season. Right-back Declan Rose, has been at the club since joining from Yeovil Town in 2020, and can play any position across the back. Harry Hutchinson is another defender who has been at the club sometime, and can also play in a midfield role if needed. In goal will be 21 year-old Max Evans, who came up through the ranks at Oxford Utd, before a stint at Yeovil Town, before signing in September 2023 from Frome Town.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Following our determined and deserved win at rivals Walton & Hersham, we sat idle last weekend, which should hopefully allow some of our injured players to get fit for this weekend’s important match at Poole Town, assuming it will go ahead.
Still sitting in our usual thirteenth place, our record stands at Pld 31 Won 10 Drawn 7 Lost 14 GF 55 GA 69 with 37pts, as we head into tomorrow’s match.
Following Manager Dan Brownlie’s, superb tactical change for the Walton game, will we see a similar sort of line-up for tomorrow’s game. Liam Ferdinand found the net at Walton, for his twelfth goal since joining us, whilst Michael Atkinson’s determination and neat finish gave us the win. Bradley Wilson still leads the Stoke goal-scoring table with his sixteen goals, whilst Dan Rowe, still sits on thirteen goals, and both will play important roles tomorrow afternoon. It is hoped that attacking winger George Reid, could be back from injury and hopefully available, in some form. Stefan Brown and Ashleigh Artwell could also be options tomorrow.
Assuming Simon Dunn is fit to start, then he will be joined by the influential Michael Atkinson, who not only added his fourth goal of the season, but like the rest of the midfield, battled the whole game to earn the victory at Walton. Alongside them were Paul Hodges, Luis Le Paih and Ben Cook, but Hodges and Le Paih who also put in tremendous shifts are likely to take part in tomorrow’s game. With Cook’s absence, then D’Andre Brown could have a major role to play tomorrow.
In defence we signed ex-Hungerford and Thatcham Town versatile defender Curtis Angell, to bolster the back four options. Billy Upton who was forced off with a chest concern, will hopefully have been passed fit to return, whilst it is still unclear on Billy’s centre-back partner, Scott Armsworth, whose injury a few weeks back, may still have him on the sidelines tomorrow. James Clark who has been a solid replacement in recent weeks, could also once again figure here. On the right will be Markus Johnson-Schuster, whilst the left-back role could be either Massimo Giamattei’s or Callum Winchcombe’s. Nathan Smart, if fit, could earn a role on the bench. In goal will be Simon Grant, who has won over the Basingstoke crowd with his influential displays.
This will once again be a big game for both teams, as Poole Town need to turn their run of losses around, if they wish to push for a playoff place, whilst Basingstoke need to continue the push away from the bottom half of the table.
If the game goes ahead, with a possible morning pitch inspection, then a large Stoke following will travel down to Dorset to get behind Dan & the players.
Match Preview by Martin French..
Poole Town vs Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 17th February 2024 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Black & Gold Stadium, School Lane, Poole. BH15 3JR
Poole Town (The Dolphins), Avg 2023-24 Home Att 522
Two weeks since our last league game, that impressive win at Walton & Hersham, we move from playing the Swans to visiting the Dolphins tomorrow afternoon.
We played Poole, back in mid-October, winning 4-2 against what was a strong Dolphin side at the time, with a brace of goals for Dan Rowe, one for Bradley Wilson and a late goal by Noah Chengun that confirmed the win.
Our Opponents
The Dolphins, are managed by Matt Tubbs, who was a player/Manager at Bashley, before joining Poole. A striker during his playing career at Dorchester initially, then a number of years at Salisbury, before starting his league career at AFC Bournemouth, which included stints at Portsmouth, Crawley & Rotherham Utd.
The Dolphins schedule has always been affected by its inability to get games played at their home ground, and this year is no exception, having played just eleven times, similar to the sorry state Plymouth Parkway are in. The Dolphins have lost their last five league games, and have not scored in their last three, and they now currently sit in eleventh place, with a league record of Pld 26, Won 12, Drawn 2, Lost 12 with 38 pts. Their leading goalscorer was experienced striker Tony Lee, who had found the net nineteen times this season, but he left this week to join AFC Totton. They did re-sign Jake Scrimshaw as cover, who has vast experience with the club over the years. Their other main striker is well-known Toby Holmes, who played against us whilst at Dorchester & Wimborne Town. Holmes also played for Taunton Town before arriving at Poole Town two seasons ago. He has added thirteen goals this season. They also have Luke Pardoe, who initially joined from AFC Bournemouth on loan before signing permanently after a short spell in the US.
The midfield contains the experienced Wes Fogden, who is reported as a hard-working and skilful midfielder, and is in second season at Poole, but was an important part of Eddie Howe’s AFC Bournemouth side. He then joined Portsmouth on loan, before spending a number of years at Havant & Waterlooville. Fogden has three goals this season. Cameron Murray, initially joined Poole on loan, after spending a number of seasons at Dorchester, and then Weymouth after moving south in 2018. Murray has two goals this season. Winger Kyran Samadi, joined from Eastleigh’s academy last August, and has already impressed, adding three goals. Local-boy Luke Nippard, started his career through the youth ranks at AFC Bournemouth, before joining the Dolphins last June from Weymouth.
In defence will be there captain Jamie Whisken, who has been at the club since the 2013-14 season after leaving Totton. Harvey Wright will likely line up as one of the centre-backs, having been in Poole’s youth ranks, he has spent time at Christchurch and Hamworthy, before joining in June 2023. Wright has added three goals this season. Right-back Declan Rose, has been at the club since joining from Yeovil Town in 2020, and can play any position across the back. Harry Hutchinson is another defender who has been at the club sometime, and can also play in a midfield role if needed. In goal will be 21 year-old Max Evans, who came up through the ranks at Oxford Utd, before a stint at Yeovil Town, before signing in September 2023 from Frome Town.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Following our determined and deserved win at rivals Walton & Hersham, we sat idle last weekend, which should hopefully allow some of our injured players to get fit for this weekend’s important match at Poole Town, assuming it will go ahead.
Still sitting in our usual thirteenth place, our record stands at Pld 31 Won 10 Drawn 7 Lost 14 GF 55 GA 69 with 37pts, as we head into tomorrow’s match.
Following Manager Dan Brownlie’s, superb tactical change for the Walton game, will we see a similar sort of line-up for tomorrow’s game. Liam Ferdinand found the net at Walton, for his twelfth goal since joining us, whilst Michael Atkinson’s determination and neat finish gave us the win. Bradley Wilson still leads the Stoke goal-scoring table with his sixteen goals, whilst Dan Rowe, still sits on thirteen goals, and both will play important roles tomorrow afternoon. It is hoped that attacking winger George Reid, could be back from injury and hopefully available, in some form. Stefan Brown and Ashleigh Artwell could also be options tomorrow.
Assuming Simon Dunn is fit to start, then he will be joined by the influential Michael Atkinson, who not only added his fourth goal of the season, but like the rest of the midfield, battled the whole game to earn the victory at Walton. Alongside them were Paul Hodges, Luis Le Paih and Ben Cook, but Hodges and Le Paih who also put in tremendous shifts are likely to take part in tomorrow’s game. With Cook’s absence, then D’Andre Brown could have a major role to play tomorrow.
In defence we signed ex-Hungerford and Thatcham Town versatile defender Curtis Angell, to bolster the back four options. Billy Upton who was forced off with a chest concern, will hopefully have been passed fit to return, whilst it is still unclear on Billy’s centre-back partner, Scott Armsworth, whose injury a few weeks back, may still have him on the sidelines tomorrow. James Clark who has been a solid replacement in recent weeks, could also once again figure here. On the right will be Markus Johnson-Schuster, whilst the left-back role could be either Massimo Giamattei’s or Callum Winchcombe’s. Nathan Smart, if fit, could earn a role on the bench. In goal will be Simon Grant, who has won over the Basingstoke crowd with his influential displays.
This will once again be a big game for both teams, as Poole Town need to turn their run of losses around, if they wish to push for a playoff place, whilst Basingstoke need to continue the push away from the bottom half of the table.
If the game goes ahead, with a possible morning pitch inspection, then a large Stoke following will travel down to Dorset to get behind Dan & the players.
Match Preview by Martin French..
