Match Preview: Taunton Town vs Basingstoke Town (FA Trophy)
Oct 4, 2024 16:05:25 GMT
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Post by martinfrench on Oct 4, 2024 16:05:25 GMT
Match Preview: FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round
Taunton Town vs Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 5th October 2024 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Cygnet Health Stadium, Wordsworth Drive, Taunton, TA1 2HG
Taunton Town (The Peacocks), Avg 2024-25 Home Att 656
With our midweek game at Chertsey postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, we now head down to league rivals Taunton in the FA Trophy, having not played a competitive game since out victory against Walton & Hersham eleven days ago we begin the first of two trips to the South-West.
The last time we played Taunton, was on that fateful day, when we were relegated from the Premier Division South losing 2-1 at the last game ever at the Camrose. Earlier in the season, we had earned a point in from a goal-less draw in Somerset.
Our Opponents
The Peacocks are managed by Richard Luffman, who previously managed Otterbourne, Alresford, and Cribbs where he lead the team to the Hellenic League Title alongside a League Cup. Luffman, left Cribbs to join Taunton in February 2024, when they sat in third place of the Southern League Division One.
Taunton still remain in the other FA competition the FA Cup, and face an old foe of Basingstoke in National League side Maidenhead, in the 4th qualifying round. In the league Taunton sit in tenth place with their record sitting at Pld 9 Won 3 Drawn 4 Lost 2 and 13pts. They are unbeaten at home, having drawn their first three home games, they have had back-to-back wins against Marlow (5-2), and Swindon Supermarine (3-1). Their leading goalscorer is ex Bath City midfielder Tom Smith with four goals. Smith who sports noticeable long ginger hair, is also the Peacocks captain and played over 260 games for Bath over a seven year, after spells at Swindon Supermarine & Cheltenham Town. Forward David Duru, has two league goals having joined from Cribbs Fc, where he scored twenty-one goals last season. Duru, was Cribbs first ever contracted player. Archie Ferris (two goals), joined in the summer of 2024 from Larkhall Athletic, where he bagged twenty-two goals last season. Ferris played for Clevedon Town prior to that. Aysa Corrick (two goals), has played for a number of clubs based in the South-West, more recently Evesham Town, Larkhall, Paulton Rovers and two spells at Yate Town.
Apart from Tom Smith in midfield, they have Tom Purrington, who joined from Plymouth Parkway in the summer. Purrington also has two league goals. His previous clubs also include Dorchester Town, Tiverton Town and Plymouth Argyle’s academy. Owen Brain, signed from Gloucester City in the summer, having previously had stints at Bristol Manor Farm, Merthyr Town & Yate Town. Alfie Moulden is another ex-Tiverton player who joined the Peacocks in the summer, and has a wealth of experience including time at Western-Super-Mare & Plymouth Parkway. He has also added two league goals. Another signing from Cribbs is Harris Feltham, who previously spent time at Eastleigh & Cardiff Met. Yet another Cribbs player who followed Luffman to Taunton is Jacob Hodgson.
In defence they have Ollie Woodhouse, who signed from Bristol Manor Farm, having played 150 times for Great Wakering Rovers, and then Roman St Glass. Toby Down is another player who was picked up from Plymouth Parkway, and has spent periods at Tiverton and previously at Taunton as well. 33-year-old Eddie Jones signed from National League South side Chippenham Town in July, after spells at Bath City, Forest Green Rovers, Gloucester City, AFC Telford, and Oxford City. Another ex-Cribbs player is defender Reed Hedges, and is back to fitness after breaking his leg in the 2022/23 season. In goal it is likely to be 22 year-old Adam Parkes, and has played for National League clubs such as Havant & Waterlooville, Barnet & Dover. He also spent two periods at Plymouth Parkway.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Following our win against Walton, we face Taunton in the first of two match-ups in the space of two weeks, starting with this important cup game tomorrow afternoon. We sit in fifth place in the league with our record standing at Pld 8 Won 4 Drawn 4 Lost 0 and 16pts. This is a big match for Stoke, so I expect us to put out our strongest line-up, which potentially means starting both Liam Ferdinand (5 goals), and Nnamdi Nwachuku (4 goals), up front. Dan Warre is the other option to start, but maybe better a better option coming off the bench if needed. With the sad news that Robbie Gallagher, will be out for an unspecified time, due to a fractured clavicle, it would be good moment for George Reid to get back to a starting role at the club. With the news that we have taken Brody Peart on a 28-day loan, he will surely play a big part in tomorrow’s squad as well. Let’s not forget Jonny Efedje who surely will be part of the squad tomorrow afternoon.
With this likely to be a really tough game tomorrow, will Simon Dunn get a recall to start from 3pm, or do players such as Rudy Allen and Max Smith, who have been superb this season continue in the middle. Add Ben Cook, Alfie Bridgman & D’Andre Brown into the mix and there’s a lot of decision for our Manager to make. There’s also Flynn Bolton who has played little this season to consider.
The defence will once again be led by the Billy Upton, and again how we set-up will be interesting as both James Clark and the man-of-the-match Jack Ball are worthy options to start, thus a possible five at the back maybe the way we set-up. This would leave both Markus Johnson-Schuster on the right and Curtis Angell on the left, to push into more wing-back roles. A very worthy option of the bench is Josh Grant, who has impressed since given minutes in games.
In goal will be the effervescent Simon Grant who has been a rock between the sticks this season.
Following our win against Walton last time, we now remain the only unbeaten team in the league for at least one more week, as we battle in a competition we have failed to go very deep in recent seasons, and Taunton will give us one hell of a battle. Prize money is also important, as the winners take home £2,450, whilst the losers just £625.
The weather is mean’t to be dry, so I expect a large contingent of the Stoke faithful will make the trip down to Somerset tomorrow.
Match Preview by Martin French..
Taunton Town vs Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 5th October 2024 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Cygnet Health Stadium, Wordsworth Drive, Taunton, TA1 2HG
Taunton Town (The Peacocks), Avg 2024-25 Home Att 656
With our midweek game at Chertsey postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, we now head down to league rivals Taunton in the FA Trophy, having not played a competitive game since out victory against Walton & Hersham eleven days ago we begin the first of two trips to the South-West.
The last time we played Taunton, was on that fateful day, when we were relegated from the Premier Division South losing 2-1 at the last game ever at the Camrose. Earlier in the season, we had earned a point in from a goal-less draw in Somerset.
Our Opponents
The Peacocks are managed by Richard Luffman, who previously managed Otterbourne, Alresford, and Cribbs where he lead the team to the Hellenic League Title alongside a League Cup. Luffman, left Cribbs to join Taunton in February 2024, when they sat in third place of the Southern League Division One.
Taunton still remain in the other FA competition the FA Cup, and face an old foe of Basingstoke in National League side Maidenhead, in the 4th qualifying round. In the league Taunton sit in tenth place with their record sitting at Pld 9 Won 3 Drawn 4 Lost 2 and 13pts. They are unbeaten at home, having drawn their first three home games, they have had back-to-back wins against Marlow (5-2), and Swindon Supermarine (3-1). Their leading goalscorer is ex Bath City midfielder Tom Smith with four goals. Smith who sports noticeable long ginger hair, is also the Peacocks captain and played over 260 games for Bath over a seven year, after spells at Swindon Supermarine & Cheltenham Town. Forward David Duru, has two league goals having joined from Cribbs Fc, where he scored twenty-one goals last season. Duru, was Cribbs first ever contracted player. Archie Ferris (two goals), joined in the summer of 2024 from Larkhall Athletic, where he bagged twenty-two goals last season. Ferris played for Clevedon Town prior to that. Aysa Corrick (two goals), has played for a number of clubs based in the South-West, more recently Evesham Town, Larkhall, Paulton Rovers and two spells at Yate Town.
Apart from Tom Smith in midfield, they have Tom Purrington, who joined from Plymouth Parkway in the summer. Purrington also has two league goals. His previous clubs also include Dorchester Town, Tiverton Town and Plymouth Argyle’s academy. Owen Brain, signed from Gloucester City in the summer, having previously had stints at Bristol Manor Farm, Merthyr Town & Yate Town. Alfie Moulden is another ex-Tiverton player who joined the Peacocks in the summer, and has a wealth of experience including time at Western-Super-Mare & Plymouth Parkway. He has also added two league goals. Another signing from Cribbs is Harris Feltham, who previously spent time at Eastleigh & Cardiff Met. Yet another Cribbs player who followed Luffman to Taunton is Jacob Hodgson.
In defence they have Ollie Woodhouse, who signed from Bristol Manor Farm, having played 150 times for Great Wakering Rovers, and then Roman St Glass. Toby Down is another player who was picked up from Plymouth Parkway, and has spent periods at Tiverton and previously at Taunton as well. 33-year-old Eddie Jones signed from National League South side Chippenham Town in July, after spells at Bath City, Forest Green Rovers, Gloucester City, AFC Telford, and Oxford City. Another ex-Cribbs player is defender Reed Hedges, and is back to fitness after breaking his leg in the 2022/23 season. In goal it is likely to be 22 year-old Adam Parkes, and has played for National League clubs such as Havant & Waterlooville, Barnet & Dover. He also spent two periods at Plymouth Parkway.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Following our win against Walton, we face Taunton in the first of two match-ups in the space of two weeks, starting with this important cup game tomorrow afternoon. We sit in fifth place in the league with our record standing at Pld 8 Won 4 Drawn 4 Lost 0 and 16pts. This is a big match for Stoke, so I expect us to put out our strongest line-up, which potentially means starting both Liam Ferdinand (5 goals), and Nnamdi Nwachuku (4 goals), up front. Dan Warre is the other option to start, but maybe better a better option coming off the bench if needed. With the sad news that Robbie Gallagher, will be out for an unspecified time, due to a fractured clavicle, it would be good moment for George Reid to get back to a starting role at the club. With the news that we have taken Brody Peart on a 28-day loan, he will surely play a big part in tomorrow’s squad as well. Let’s not forget Jonny Efedje who surely will be part of the squad tomorrow afternoon.
With this likely to be a really tough game tomorrow, will Simon Dunn get a recall to start from 3pm, or do players such as Rudy Allen and Max Smith, who have been superb this season continue in the middle. Add Ben Cook, Alfie Bridgman & D’Andre Brown into the mix and there’s a lot of decision for our Manager to make. There’s also Flynn Bolton who has played little this season to consider.
The defence will once again be led by the Billy Upton, and again how we set-up will be interesting as both James Clark and the man-of-the-match Jack Ball are worthy options to start, thus a possible five at the back maybe the way we set-up. This would leave both Markus Johnson-Schuster on the right and Curtis Angell on the left, to push into more wing-back roles. A very worthy option of the bench is Josh Grant, who has impressed since given minutes in games.
In goal will be the effervescent Simon Grant who has been a rock between the sticks this season.
Following our win against Walton last time, we now remain the only unbeaten team in the league for at least one more week, as we battle in a competition we have failed to go very deep in recent seasons, and Taunton will give us one hell of a battle. Prize money is also important, as the winners take home £2,450, whilst the losers just £625.
The weather is mean’t to be dry, so I expect a large contingent of the Stoke faithful will make the trip down to Somerset tomorrow.
Match Preview by Martin French..
