Match Preview: Basingstoke Town vs Gosport Borough
Mar 28, 2024 14:32:58 GMT
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Post by martinfrench on Mar 28, 2024 14:32:58 GMT
Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Basingstoke Town vs Gosport Borough
When: Friday 29th March 2024 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Gosport Borough (The Boro), Avg 2023-24 Home Att 776
Yet once more this season’s squad of players, proved that they can hold their own against any side in this league, as we faced the likely league Champions Chesham Town, and despite falling behind to an early goal, and Chesham pushing for more, this side dug in, fought their way back into the game, and took their opportunity to level when we were on top in the last ten minutes of the first half. Despite chances to stun the leaders in the second-half, the points were shared, which clearly upset the travelling Chesham fans.
After facing the league leaders tomorrow we face second-placed Gosport Borough. We visited Gosport Borough back in August on a balmy Tuesday night, taking the deserved lead through George Reid. We had other decent chances in the half, but still went into the break in the lead. Gosport however equalised early, when the game resumed then took the lead just past the hour. Gosport then added two late goals in added-time, to leave the scoreline at 4-1.
Our Opponents
The Boro are jointly managed by Pat Suraci & Joe Lea, who took over full control at the club earlier this season. Both had decent playing careers, and became Jt Managers initially at Petersfield Town before departing for Privett Park last May.
With Salisbury slipping-up once again last weekend, this allowed Gosport to move upto second place, after their emphatic four-nil win at Didcot Town. Their league record sits at Pld 35 Won 20 Drawn 7 Lost 8, with 67pts. Their away record stands at an impressive record with 10 Wins, 2 Draws & 5 Losses. Their leading goal-scorer is club legend striker Daniel Wooden, who has found the net eighteen times in the league. Wooden, started at the club in 2010, after impressing at Moneyfields, and apart from a short stint at AFC Portchester he rejoined in 2021. Another striker Gerson Da Costa Ramos, has added nine goals, including a hat-trick last Saturday at Didcot. Ramos, previously played at clubs in the area, such as AFC Portchester, Sholing, Hamble & Andover New Street. Another striker is Alfie Stanley who joined in February, and has found the net once since arriving from AFC Totton.
The Boro’s midfield starts with winger Bradley Tarbuck, who has six league goals on the season. Tarbuck started his career for his boyhood club Portsmouth, making two appearances for them before leaving in 2015 to join Havant & Waterlooville. He was snapped up by Gosport in 2021, where he has become a fan favourite. They have the experienced Danny Hollands, who has made over 500 football league appearances in his career for clubs such as AFC Bournemouth, Crewe, Eastleigh and he also won the Division 1 title whilst at Charlton Athletic. Hollands has two goals this season. Alex Barsa, rejoined the club last July from Petersfield Town, after helping them gain promotion. Barsa, with six league goals, originally played for Boro, when he move to the area from his home in the Czech Republic. Harvey Rew, is another attacking midfielder, who has added six goals, and joined the club in 2021 after being released by Portsmouth.
In defence they have right-back Harry Kavanagh, who was released by Portsmouth in 2022. Kavanagh, has two goals. Left-back is Rory Williams, has three goals, and started his career in Boro’s youth ranks, but has also played for Havant & Waterlooville & Andover. Harry Medway, rejoined Boro in Nov 2022 from AFC Totton. In his previous stint at Boro, he was team captain. Charlie Wassmer, joined in June 2023, after a loan period from Hayes & Yeading. He has played for a number of clubs, including Crawley Town, Cambridge Utd & Margate. In goal it is likely to be Toby Steward, who joined last July on loan from Portsmouth. Steward, has also played for Salisbury & Bognor Regis.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Once more this Stoke side proved it’s more than capable to hold its own, and although many fans would have taken a point at the start of the game, with a bit of luck, we could have overturned the expected League Champions. This leaves us in eleventh place with our record now standing at Pld 35 Won 13 Drawn 8 Lost 14, with 47pts. Our home record now sits at a respectable 7 wins 5 draws & 6 losses.
Tomorrow we face the team, one place below the league leaders, and again Manager Dan Brownlie, will have a number of decisions to make, on who will be in the starting line-up. Assuming strikers Liam Ferdinand & Bradley Wilson are some of the first names on the teamsheet, does Stefan Brown who started last week, start in front of a fit-again Dan Rowe. I’m unaware of the fitness of both George Reid & Ashleigh Artwell.
The midfield who held then overcame a strong Chesham midfield is likely to remain the same, thus Paul Hodges, Luis Le Paih and Elliott Bolton who continues to make a mark in the side, and his excellent finish, his first of hopefully many, just before the break brought us level. Again the fitness of Simon Dunn & D’Andre Brown is unknown for tomorrow’s game.
The defence once again showed, that despite conceding an early goal, we were able to repel the Chesham attacks, allowing the midfield time to regain a foothold in the game, as we moved towards the halftime break. Therefore, the line-up may stay the same, unless Scott Armsworth replaces the versatile James Clark in one of the centre-back roles. Billy Upton, is likely to retain the Captains armband, whilst Curtis Angell and Massimo Giamattei appear to have nailed down the right & left back roles, unless Markus Johnson-Schuster is fit to return.
In goal will be the Supporters Club ‘February Player of the Month’, Simon Grant, who has been one of our Manager’s best signings this season.
Unbeaten in our last five league games, we have consolidated our position to remain in the top half of the league table, as we play the first of two games over the Easter Bank Holiday period. Despite the expected weather tomorrow afternoon, it is hoped that another large crowd could make their way down to Winklebury, against another team expecting to leave with all three points. Your support of Dan and the players tomorrow can go along way in changing that.
Match Preview by Martin French..
Basingstoke Town vs Gosport Borough
When: Friday 29th March 2024 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Gosport Borough (The Boro), Avg 2023-24 Home Att 776
Yet once more this season’s squad of players, proved that they can hold their own against any side in this league, as we faced the likely league Champions Chesham Town, and despite falling behind to an early goal, and Chesham pushing for more, this side dug in, fought their way back into the game, and took their opportunity to level when we were on top in the last ten minutes of the first half. Despite chances to stun the leaders in the second-half, the points were shared, which clearly upset the travelling Chesham fans.
After facing the league leaders tomorrow we face second-placed Gosport Borough. We visited Gosport Borough back in August on a balmy Tuesday night, taking the deserved lead through George Reid. We had other decent chances in the half, but still went into the break in the lead. Gosport however equalised early, when the game resumed then took the lead just past the hour. Gosport then added two late goals in added-time, to leave the scoreline at 4-1.
Our Opponents
The Boro are jointly managed by Pat Suraci & Joe Lea, who took over full control at the club earlier this season. Both had decent playing careers, and became Jt Managers initially at Petersfield Town before departing for Privett Park last May.
With Salisbury slipping-up once again last weekend, this allowed Gosport to move upto second place, after their emphatic four-nil win at Didcot Town. Their league record sits at Pld 35 Won 20 Drawn 7 Lost 8, with 67pts. Their away record stands at an impressive record with 10 Wins, 2 Draws & 5 Losses. Their leading goal-scorer is club legend striker Daniel Wooden, who has found the net eighteen times in the league. Wooden, started at the club in 2010, after impressing at Moneyfields, and apart from a short stint at AFC Portchester he rejoined in 2021. Another striker Gerson Da Costa Ramos, has added nine goals, including a hat-trick last Saturday at Didcot. Ramos, previously played at clubs in the area, such as AFC Portchester, Sholing, Hamble & Andover New Street. Another striker is Alfie Stanley who joined in February, and has found the net once since arriving from AFC Totton.
The Boro’s midfield starts with winger Bradley Tarbuck, who has six league goals on the season. Tarbuck started his career for his boyhood club Portsmouth, making two appearances for them before leaving in 2015 to join Havant & Waterlooville. He was snapped up by Gosport in 2021, where he has become a fan favourite. They have the experienced Danny Hollands, who has made over 500 football league appearances in his career for clubs such as AFC Bournemouth, Crewe, Eastleigh and he also won the Division 1 title whilst at Charlton Athletic. Hollands has two goals this season. Alex Barsa, rejoined the club last July from Petersfield Town, after helping them gain promotion. Barsa, with six league goals, originally played for Boro, when he move to the area from his home in the Czech Republic. Harvey Rew, is another attacking midfielder, who has added six goals, and joined the club in 2021 after being released by Portsmouth.
In defence they have right-back Harry Kavanagh, who was released by Portsmouth in 2022. Kavanagh, has two goals. Left-back is Rory Williams, has three goals, and started his career in Boro’s youth ranks, but has also played for Havant & Waterlooville & Andover. Harry Medway, rejoined Boro in Nov 2022 from AFC Totton. In his previous stint at Boro, he was team captain. Charlie Wassmer, joined in June 2023, after a loan period from Hayes & Yeading. He has played for a number of clubs, including Crawley Town, Cambridge Utd & Margate. In goal it is likely to be Toby Steward, who joined last July on loan from Portsmouth. Steward, has also played for Salisbury & Bognor Regis.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Once more this Stoke side proved it’s more than capable to hold its own, and although many fans would have taken a point at the start of the game, with a bit of luck, we could have overturned the expected League Champions. This leaves us in eleventh place with our record now standing at Pld 35 Won 13 Drawn 8 Lost 14, with 47pts. Our home record now sits at a respectable 7 wins 5 draws & 6 losses.
Tomorrow we face the team, one place below the league leaders, and again Manager Dan Brownlie, will have a number of decisions to make, on who will be in the starting line-up. Assuming strikers Liam Ferdinand & Bradley Wilson are some of the first names on the teamsheet, does Stefan Brown who started last week, start in front of a fit-again Dan Rowe. I’m unaware of the fitness of both George Reid & Ashleigh Artwell.
The midfield who held then overcame a strong Chesham midfield is likely to remain the same, thus Paul Hodges, Luis Le Paih and Elliott Bolton who continues to make a mark in the side, and his excellent finish, his first of hopefully many, just before the break brought us level. Again the fitness of Simon Dunn & D’Andre Brown is unknown for tomorrow’s game.
The defence once again showed, that despite conceding an early goal, we were able to repel the Chesham attacks, allowing the midfield time to regain a foothold in the game, as we moved towards the halftime break. Therefore, the line-up may stay the same, unless Scott Armsworth replaces the versatile James Clark in one of the centre-back roles. Billy Upton, is likely to retain the Captains armband, whilst Curtis Angell and Massimo Giamattei appear to have nailed down the right & left back roles, unless Markus Johnson-Schuster is fit to return.
In goal will be the Supporters Club ‘February Player of the Month’, Simon Grant, who has been one of our Manager’s best signings this season.
Unbeaten in our last five league games, we have consolidated our position to remain in the top half of the league table, as we play the first of two games over the Easter Bank Holiday period. Despite the expected weather tomorrow afternoon, it is hoped that another large crowd could make their way down to Winklebury, against another team expecting to leave with all three points. Your support of Dan and the players tomorrow can go along way in changing that.
Match Preview by Martin French..