Match Preview: Basingstoke Town vs Bracknell Town
Apr 5, 2024 14:15:56 GMT
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Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Basingstoke Town vs Bracknell Town
When: Saturday 6th April 2024 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Bracknell Town (The Robins), Avg 2023-24 Home Att 353
Having met first placed Chesham and then second-placed Gosport, we took on third-placed Salisbury down in Wiltshire, and despite taking the lead and looking the better team, some weak refereeing decisions, saw us go onto to lose by the odd goal.
Tomorrow we face another team looking for promotion, as we host rivals Bracknell Town at Winklebury. We played at Bracknell back in October, and with a weakened line-up that night, we were dealt a lesson losing four-nil on the night.
Our Opponents
Bracknell Town, have gone through a number of changes at the club, since we last faced them, and one of them was a change in manager, when Jordan Ive took over from the Carl Withers & Jamie McClurg. Ive, was the manager at Sandhurst, whose ground saw Bracknell basically pay for the upgrades, so that they could take-over at Top Meadow.
Bracknell come into this game having destroyed Sholing on Easter Monday five-one, and currently sit in sixth, just one spot outside the playoff places with five games to play. Their record sits at Pld 37 Won 18 Drawn 4 Lost 15, with 58pts. What is surprising is there very poor away record for a team that sits just outside the playoffs, with it sitting at just 4 Wins, 2 Draws & 12 Losses. Their leading goal-scorer is Joe Grant, who has sixteen league goals, and is an attacking winger, who played previously at Hartley Wintney and before that Hayes & Yeading and Slough Town. Striker Ashley Lodge, has seven goals, and was at Staines Town in 2019, before joining Chertsey Town in 2020, and was part of their playoff side that initially beat Basingstoke in 2022, before losing to Hanwell Town in the playoff final. In his earlier career he also had spells as Molesey, Ashford Town, as well Hayes & Yeading and Egham Town. Forward Jordan Esprit, has fourteen league goals this season, who joined from Bedfont Sports, in July 2022. He was a major part of Bracknell’s FA Cup run and his previous clubs include Hampton & Richmond Borough & Chertsey Town, before his time at Sports. They did have ex-Stoke striker winger Nana Owusu, who had nine league goals before departing for Walton & Hersham. 23 year-old striker Great Evans, joined from fellow Premier South side Hungerford Town, last August, but has only recently broken into the starting line-up, and has found the net twice. He has spent time at a number of step 3 & 4 clubs, such as Hayes & Yeading, South Park, Merstham, Wingate & Finchley & Leatherhead.
In midfield apart from Grant, they have young Haydon Vaughan who has four league goals, since progressing through their academy side. They also have the experienced Max Herbert, who has been at the club since 2019, having previously spent time at Ashford Town. Tom Jackson, joined Bracknell this season, following a 22-23 season, at three clubs Hanwell Town, Corinthian Casuals & Hendon. They also have George Knight who has been at the club for the last couple of seasons.
In defence is reliable full-back Ethan Burden, who is in his second season. Burden, was part of the 2021-22 Isthmian League’s division ‘Team of the Year’. They have Olukayode ‘KJ’ Osu , who has made an impressive start to his career and has been scouted by teams such as West Brom & Huddersfield Town. In goal it is likely to be the experienced Michael Eacott once again. Eacott returned to the club following a stint at Sutton Common Rovers.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Finally that unbeaten run had to come to an end, but a number of Stoke fans felt, it was achieved by somewhat underhand measures. After Stoke’s defence rode their luck early-on, we came into the game, and Stefan Brown’s neatly flicked header (his first goal of the season), gave us the deserved lead. Then whilst looking the team to score the next goal, the game was unexpectedly stopped, as believed Salisbury officials put pressure on the referee. The lengthy delay, allowed Salisbury to reset, and apart from the odd chance, we battled but created very little, not helped by further injuries to our side. This was not helped by a questionable penalty award to Salisbury, which they converted to bring the game level going into the break. With Stoke’s injuries starting to mount up, and some further worrying refereeing decisions, Salisbury took control of the game, but it took a goal ten minutes from time to be the deciding goal, even though we missed one good opportunity to draw level deep in added-time. The loss left us in tenth place with our record at Pld 37 Won 14 Drawn 8 Lost 15, with 50pts. Our home record remains at a respectable 8 wins 5 draws & 6 losses.
We face a Bracknell side tomorrow, with a number of injury concerns from Easter Monday’s trip to Salisbury, and Manager Dan Brownlie’s backroom staff will have been working hard to get some of the players ready for this match-up. It is likely Liam Ferdinand (who left Bracknell earlier this season), will regain his starting centre-forward role, and it will be interesting to see who else starts alongside him, as Stefan Brown who played and scored at Salisbury, could battle it out for a starting role with Dan Rowe. Bradley Wilson, is likely to be the other attacking player, especially losing Shamar Moore to injury. George Reid is still on the sidelines recovering from injury.
The midfield were superb battling Salisbury, for ninety-plus minutes, with Paul Hodges the stand-out despite taking a number of hits from Salisbury players. Elliott Bolton & Luis Le Paih were also superb, and will likely fill the slots, alongwith the expected return of Simon Dunn, who could start depending on how we decide to line up.
The defence who also kept out Salisbury by hook or by crook, for most of the game, took some hits, and hopefully our physio will have worked her magic, in getting Billy Upton and James Clark back fit. Shane Hollamby who also departed just before halftime to injury, is unlikely to make the matchday squad. This should give Scott Armsworth a chance to return to the middle, hopefully alongside Billy Upton. If not, one or two academy players may well be drafted in to feel places. Curtis Angell and Massimo Giamattei, should fill the right and left back roles.
In goal will be Simon Grant, who has signed a contract that will take him to the end of the 2024-25 season.
Another big game against a team at the top, and one against our rivals, with more at stake for them us.
I’m sure whatever the line-up tomorrow that Dan decides to go with, it will again battle for every ball and tackle on the pitch, so why not get down to Winklebury despite the expected windy weather and get behind your Basingstoke side.
Match Preview by Martin French..
Basingstoke Town vs Bracknell Town
When: Saturday 6th April 2024 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Bracknell Town (The Robins), Avg 2023-24 Home Att 353
Having met first placed Chesham and then second-placed Gosport, we took on third-placed Salisbury down in Wiltshire, and despite taking the lead and looking the better team, some weak refereeing decisions, saw us go onto to lose by the odd goal.
Tomorrow we face another team looking for promotion, as we host rivals Bracknell Town at Winklebury. We played at Bracknell back in October, and with a weakened line-up that night, we were dealt a lesson losing four-nil on the night.
Our Opponents
Bracknell Town, have gone through a number of changes at the club, since we last faced them, and one of them was a change in manager, when Jordan Ive took over from the Carl Withers & Jamie McClurg. Ive, was the manager at Sandhurst, whose ground saw Bracknell basically pay for the upgrades, so that they could take-over at Top Meadow.
Bracknell come into this game having destroyed Sholing on Easter Monday five-one, and currently sit in sixth, just one spot outside the playoff places with five games to play. Their record sits at Pld 37 Won 18 Drawn 4 Lost 15, with 58pts. What is surprising is there very poor away record for a team that sits just outside the playoffs, with it sitting at just 4 Wins, 2 Draws & 12 Losses. Their leading goal-scorer is Joe Grant, who has sixteen league goals, and is an attacking winger, who played previously at Hartley Wintney and before that Hayes & Yeading and Slough Town. Striker Ashley Lodge, has seven goals, and was at Staines Town in 2019, before joining Chertsey Town in 2020, and was part of their playoff side that initially beat Basingstoke in 2022, before losing to Hanwell Town in the playoff final. In his earlier career he also had spells as Molesey, Ashford Town, as well Hayes & Yeading and Egham Town. Forward Jordan Esprit, has fourteen league goals this season, who joined from Bedfont Sports, in July 2022. He was a major part of Bracknell’s FA Cup run and his previous clubs include Hampton & Richmond Borough & Chertsey Town, before his time at Sports. They did have ex-Stoke striker winger Nana Owusu, who had nine league goals before departing for Walton & Hersham. 23 year-old striker Great Evans, joined from fellow Premier South side Hungerford Town, last August, but has only recently broken into the starting line-up, and has found the net twice. He has spent time at a number of step 3 & 4 clubs, such as Hayes & Yeading, South Park, Merstham, Wingate & Finchley & Leatherhead.
In midfield apart from Grant, they have young Haydon Vaughan who has four league goals, since progressing through their academy side. They also have the experienced Max Herbert, who has been at the club since 2019, having previously spent time at Ashford Town. Tom Jackson, joined Bracknell this season, following a 22-23 season, at three clubs Hanwell Town, Corinthian Casuals & Hendon. They also have George Knight who has been at the club for the last couple of seasons.
In defence is reliable full-back Ethan Burden, who is in his second season. Burden, was part of the 2021-22 Isthmian League’s division ‘Team of the Year’. They have Olukayode ‘KJ’ Osu , who has made an impressive start to his career and has been scouted by teams such as West Brom & Huddersfield Town. In goal it is likely to be the experienced Michael Eacott once again. Eacott returned to the club following a stint at Sutton Common Rovers.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Finally that unbeaten run had to come to an end, but a number of Stoke fans felt, it was achieved by somewhat underhand measures. After Stoke’s defence rode their luck early-on, we came into the game, and Stefan Brown’s neatly flicked header (his first goal of the season), gave us the deserved lead. Then whilst looking the team to score the next goal, the game was unexpectedly stopped, as believed Salisbury officials put pressure on the referee. The lengthy delay, allowed Salisbury to reset, and apart from the odd chance, we battled but created very little, not helped by further injuries to our side. This was not helped by a questionable penalty award to Salisbury, which they converted to bring the game level going into the break. With Stoke’s injuries starting to mount up, and some further worrying refereeing decisions, Salisbury took control of the game, but it took a goal ten minutes from time to be the deciding goal, even though we missed one good opportunity to draw level deep in added-time. The loss left us in tenth place with our record at Pld 37 Won 14 Drawn 8 Lost 15, with 50pts. Our home record remains at a respectable 8 wins 5 draws & 6 losses.
We face a Bracknell side tomorrow, with a number of injury concerns from Easter Monday’s trip to Salisbury, and Manager Dan Brownlie’s backroom staff will have been working hard to get some of the players ready for this match-up. It is likely Liam Ferdinand (who left Bracknell earlier this season), will regain his starting centre-forward role, and it will be interesting to see who else starts alongside him, as Stefan Brown who played and scored at Salisbury, could battle it out for a starting role with Dan Rowe. Bradley Wilson, is likely to be the other attacking player, especially losing Shamar Moore to injury. George Reid is still on the sidelines recovering from injury.
The midfield were superb battling Salisbury, for ninety-plus minutes, with Paul Hodges the stand-out despite taking a number of hits from Salisbury players. Elliott Bolton & Luis Le Paih were also superb, and will likely fill the slots, alongwith the expected return of Simon Dunn, who could start depending on how we decide to line up.
The defence who also kept out Salisbury by hook or by crook, for most of the game, took some hits, and hopefully our physio will have worked her magic, in getting Billy Upton and James Clark back fit. Shane Hollamby who also departed just before halftime to injury, is unlikely to make the matchday squad. This should give Scott Armsworth a chance to return to the middle, hopefully alongside Billy Upton. If not, one or two academy players may well be drafted in to feel places. Curtis Angell and Massimo Giamattei, should fill the right and left back roles.
In goal will be Simon Grant, who has signed a contract that will take him to the end of the 2024-25 season.
Another big game against a team at the top, and one against our rivals, with more at stake for them us.
I’m sure whatever the line-up tomorrow that Dan decides to go with, it will again battle for every ball and tackle on the pitch, so why not get down to Winklebury despite the expected windy weather and get behind your Basingstoke side.
Match Preview by Martin French..