Match Preview: Hungerford Town vs Basingstoke Town (Game 42)
Apr 26, 2024 6:03:26 GMT
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Post by martinfrench on Apr 26, 2024 6:03:26 GMT
Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Hungerford Town vs Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 27th April 2024 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Bulpitt Lane, Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 0AY
Hungerford Town (The Crusaders), Avg 2023-24 Home Att 390
Well following our superb victory against a tough Dorchester Town side, we can breathe easier as we prepare for last league game of the season, without fear of any relegation. The highlight of last week’s victory, being Paul Hodges 80 yard shot that has been shared across the league and appeared on Sky Sports news.
Tomorrow we make the short trip to Hungerford for last league game of the 23-24 season, who in the reverse fixture back on a Tuesday evening in December, we held a two-one lead, until their leading goalscorer Conor McDonagh found a late equaliser. Our goalscorers on the night were Bradley Wilson & Michael Atkinson.
Our Opponents
The Crusaders are managed by former Thatcham Town boss Danny Robinson, who had five successful seasons with the Kingfishers, which included them winning the FA Vase in 2018.
The Crusaders have been hovering just outside the playoff places for most of the season and currently now sit in a comfortable eighth place with a record of PLD 41 Won 17, Drawn 10 Lost 14 with 61pts. Their home record is an impressive 10 wins, 6 draws and just 4 losses. Their leading goalscorer is forward Conor McDonagh, who has twenty-four league goals on the season. McDonagh, has played for clubs such as Oxford City, Banbury Utd & Swindon Supermarine who he joined the club from back in July. Welsh born Midfielder Elis Watts has added fourteen league goals on the season. Watts, has been on loan at a number of clubs such as Aldershot, Farnborough & joined from Weston-Super-Mare. In February they signed striker Elliott Dugan, who has found the net three times since joining from Taunton Town, as replacement for Great Evans, who left for Bracknell Town.
In midfield, the season-long loan of Adulai Sambu from Cheltenham Town, has born fruits, with seven league goals, whilst 28 year-old Sam De St Croix, has found the net five times, after joining from Bognor Regis. Winger Josiah Bridgerman, a Grenada international footballer joined in March from Welling Utd, and has also spent time at Kettering & Burgess Hill. Central midfielder Brad Hooper (29), played over 200 games for Swindon Supermarine, then a short time at Cirencester, before coming to Bulpitt Labe and has one league goal. Joe Shepherd another midfielder has three league goals, after arriving from Cirencester Town last year.
In defence Baboucarr Jarra, who we met at Thatcham Town, rejoined the Crusaders. Rhys Taylor (31), has had a strange path to get to Hungerford, after being part of Reading’s youth academy he then played for German 3rd division side FC Rot-Weib Erfut, and then signed for Hungerford 2015 has been instrumental in their success since arriving. Ramarni Medford-Smith, was a Reading youth product, and before joining Hungerford, he played for the likes of Bracknell, Farnborough & Marlow. Matthew Barry-Hargreaves, is a product from Hungerford’s academy, was signed by Oxford Utd, and has been an ever present in the team since rejoining the Crusaders back in the 2018-19 season.
In goal will be Ryan Clarke, who started his career at Bristol Rovers, and has played for other football league clubs such as Oxford Utd, Southend and AFC Wimbledon, before joining from Bath City this season.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
From two lack-lustre performances, the whole team turned it around last Saturday, putting in a top-quality performance at home to Dorchester. After the defence stood firm early on, we came into the game and a neat clipped finish from Liam Ferdinand, gave us the lead going into the break. Despite the visitors levelling the game, Bradley Wilson, whistled a shot into the top corner of the net, to give us back the lead. Then as millions across the country, now know, we completed the victory through Paul Hodges 80-yard finish to give us the three-one win and secure our place in the league for next season.
The win leaves us in twelfth, with our record at Pld 41 Won 15 Drawn 8 Lost 18 GF 69 GA 82 with 53pts. Bradley Wilson confirmed his Golden Boot Award, with that goal last Saturday and his twenty-first goals of the season. Dan Rowe, 15 goals and Liam Ferdinand, who hit his twelfth of the season last Saturday, should remain alongside Wilson. Stefan Brown is an option to start or freshen it up from the bench.
The midfield should once again be led by Simon Dunn, whilst last week’s performances from Luis Le Paih, and Paul Hodges were excellent as they fought for every tackle against a strong Dorchester side. Hodges goal will be remembered by many for those present for many years to come. Depending on how we set-up tomorrow, Ben Cook could be in-line to make a start, but certainly as option off the bench.
The set-up at the back worked a treat last Saturday with Billy Upton and Curtis Angell, the centre-backs, Massimo Giamattei on the left, and young academy star Aleks Kokoszka’s strong performance in the right-back slot, which could earn him remaining in this role tomorrow afternoon. Shane Hollamby & James Clark depending on their fitness, could also be options here. Wearing the keeper’s gloves will once again be worn by fan-favourite Simon Grant.
With us in a safe position in the middle of the table, Manager Dan Brownlie, can choose how he wants to set-up his side at Hungerford, and could give one or two players starting roles tomorrow, knowing that both sides have little to play for but pride.
There is expected to be a large Stoke following transcending on the tiny town of Hungerford tomorrow, and this will likely make for a noisy atmosphere at the ground.
Match Preview by Martin French..
Hungerford Town vs Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 27th April 2024 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Bulpitt Lane, Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 0AY
Hungerford Town (The Crusaders), Avg 2023-24 Home Att 390
Well following our superb victory against a tough Dorchester Town side, we can breathe easier as we prepare for last league game of the season, without fear of any relegation. The highlight of last week’s victory, being Paul Hodges 80 yard shot that has been shared across the league and appeared on Sky Sports news.
Tomorrow we make the short trip to Hungerford for last league game of the 23-24 season, who in the reverse fixture back on a Tuesday evening in December, we held a two-one lead, until their leading goalscorer Conor McDonagh found a late equaliser. Our goalscorers on the night were Bradley Wilson & Michael Atkinson.
Our Opponents
The Crusaders are managed by former Thatcham Town boss Danny Robinson, who had five successful seasons with the Kingfishers, which included them winning the FA Vase in 2018.
The Crusaders have been hovering just outside the playoff places for most of the season and currently now sit in a comfortable eighth place with a record of PLD 41 Won 17, Drawn 10 Lost 14 with 61pts. Their home record is an impressive 10 wins, 6 draws and just 4 losses. Their leading goalscorer is forward Conor McDonagh, who has twenty-four league goals on the season. McDonagh, has played for clubs such as Oxford City, Banbury Utd & Swindon Supermarine who he joined the club from back in July. Welsh born Midfielder Elis Watts has added fourteen league goals on the season. Watts, has been on loan at a number of clubs such as Aldershot, Farnborough & joined from Weston-Super-Mare. In February they signed striker Elliott Dugan, who has found the net three times since joining from Taunton Town, as replacement for Great Evans, who left for Bracknell Town.
In midfield, the season-long loan of Adulai Sambu from Cheltenham Town, has born fruits, with seven league goals, whilst 28 year-old Sam De St Croix, has found the net five times, after joining from Bognor Regis. Winger Josiah Bridgerman, a Grenada international footballer joined in March from Welling Utd, and has also spent time at Kettering & Burgess Hill. Central midfielder Brad Hooper (29), played over 200 games for Swindon Supermarine, then a short time at Cirencester, before coming to Bulpitt Labe and has one league goal. Joe Shepherd another midfielder has three league goals, after arriving from Cirencester Town last year.
In defence Baboucarr Jarra, who we met at Thatcham Town, rejoined the Crusaders. Rhys Taylor (31), has had a strange path to get to Hungerford, after being part of Reading’s youth academy he then played for German 3rd division side FC Rot-Weib Erfut, and then signed for Hungerford 2015 has been instrumental in their success since arriving. Ramarni Medford-Smith, was a Reading youth product, and before joining Hungerford, he played for the likes of Bracknell, Farnborough & Marlow. Matthew Barry-Hargreaves, is a product from Hungerford’s academy, was signed by Oxford Utd, and has been an ever present in the team since rejoining the Crusaders back in the 2018-19 season.
In goal will be Ryan Clarke, who started his career at Bristol Rovers, and has played for other football league clubs such as Oxford Utd, Southend and AFC Wimbledon, before joining from Bath City this season.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
From two lack-lustre performances, the whole team turned it around last Saturday, putting in a top-quality performance at home to Dorchester. After the defence stood firm early on, we came into the game and a neat clipped finish from Liam Ferdinand, gave us the lead going into the break. Despite the visitors levelling the game, Bradley Wilson, whistled a shot into the top corner of the net, to give us back the lead. Then as millions across the country, now know, we completed the victory through Paul Hodges 80-yard finish to give us the three-one win and secure our place in the league for next season.
The win leaves us in twelfth, with our record at Pld 41 Won 15 Drawn 8 Lost 18 GF 69 GA 82 with 53pts. Bradley Wilson confirmed his Golden Boot Award, with that goal last Saturday and his twenty-first goals of the season. Dan Rowe, 15 goals and Liam Ferdinand, who hit his twelfth of the season last Saturday, should remain alongside Wilson. Stefan Brown is an option to start or freshen it up from the bench.
The midfield should once again be led by Simon Dunn, whilst last week’s performances from Luis Le Paih, and Paul Hodges were excellent as they fought for every tackle against a strong Dorchester side. Hodges goal will be remembered by many for those present for many years to come. Depending on how we set-up tomorrow, Ben Cook could be in-line to make a start, but certainly as option off the bench.
The set-up at the back worked a treat last Saturday with Billy Upton and Curtis Angell, the centre-backs, Massimo Giamattei on the left, and young academy star Aleks Kokoszka’s strong performance in the right-back slot, which could earn him remaining in this role tomorrow afternoon. Shane Hollamby & James Clark depending on their fitness, could also be options here. Wearing the keeper’s gloves will once again be worn by fan-favourite Simon Grant.
With us in a safe position in the middle of the table, Manager Dan Brownlie, can choose how he wants to set-up his side at Hungerford, and could give one or two players starting roles tomorrow, knowing that both sides have little to play for but pride.
There is expected to be a large Stoke following transcending on the tiny town of Hungerford tomorrow, and this will likely make for a noisy atmosphere at the ground.
Match Preview by Martin French..
