Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Berkhamsted vs Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 17th January 2026 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Glencar Community Stadium, Lower Kings Road, Berkhamsted, Herts. HP4 2AL
Berkhamsted (The Comrades), 2025-26 Curr League Position 11th
A well-deserved point last Saturday at Wimborne Town, with Joe Barough’s first goal for the club, continued the clubs good form in the past four weeks, as we head back out on the road to Berkhamsted, in the second of three consecutive away games.
We played Berkhamsted back at the start of November, where we were level (1-1) at halftime after Cheick Sylla put us ahead. A second-half thunderbolt by George Reid gave us a 2-1 victory.
Our Opponents
In January 2024, the Comrades former manager Chris Devane agreed to return and signed a two-year contract with the club. Devane then steered the Comrades to a playoff success in the Southern League Central league last season.
Berkhamsted have so far been idle in 2026, as their last two games at home to Hanwell on the 3rd and away to Bracknell last Saturday were called off due to frozen pitches. This means their league position has them slipping down to twelfth, with their record at Pld 23 Won 9 Drawn 6 Lost 8 and 33pts. Their home record is a 5 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses. They are also one of the lower goal-scoring sides in the league with just 30 goals, but then they do have one of the better defences, conceding just 32 goals. Their strikeforce is led by club captain Jonathan (JJ) Lacey, who scored the Comrades goal at Winklebury, now has eleven goals on the season, Regarded as a non-league legend, he has over 100 of his 200 goals with the Comrades in over 350+ senior appearances. US born striker Michael Harding joined this season from Flackwell Heath and now has six goals, and previously played at Risborough, Barwell and Beaconsfield. Ryan Blake has five goals after rejoining the Comrades from Bedford Town where he was captain for consecutive promotion seasons. He also had spells at Chesham United, Hayes & Yeading Utd and Enfield Town.
The midfield starts with Adam Watkins signed from Royston Town in 2021 and has other experience at both Dunstable clubs, Chesham United, Bedford Town and Cambridge City. Luke Andrews just 22, signed from Biggleswade Town in July 2022, and is the main central midfielder in the team. Bradley Wadkins, is an attacking midfielder, in his second stint with the club, regarded as an attacking midfielder, also played at Chesham, Slough Town and Welwyn Garden City. Kyle Brooks arrived last month from AFC Dunstable for whom he made 100 appearances over three seasons and captained the side. Billie Busari is a 24-year-old Dublin born right winger. He started his career with Reading and Fulham U23s, has played loan spells at several Step 3 clubs and most recently a permanent stint at Sholing. Last week they added 18-year-old midfielder Patrick Matejko on loan from Barnet for the rest of the season.
The defence starts with central defender James Gurteen, who joined in the summer of 2025 from Harrow Borough, for whom he made 49 appearances last season. He has also played at Rayners Lane and Bracknell Town. 21-year-old Max Rosner is a strong, commanding centre-half who joined in October 2024, having previously been at AFC Dunstable, Bedford Town, Aylesbury Vale Dynamos and Hemel Hempstead Town. Cameron Hyde is likely to play n one of the defensive back roles and was a stand-out performer at step 4 Barton Rovers, playing nearly a 100 games over the last two seasons, and has also played at Chesham, Bedford Kempston and Biggleswade Utd. Another centre-half is Pierce Mitchell, who joined from Frome Town, where he made 90 appearances over three seasons. Pierce has played most of his career at Step 3, and is an Ireland U18 international. In goal will be the experienced Charlie Horlock, who joined at the start of 2025/26 season from Slough Town for whom he made 54 appearances last season. Before that, Charlie played 273 games at Hitchin Town, and spells at Wycombe Wanderers and Stevenage.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
With good strong performances, we are now unbeaten in our last five games, and last Saturday’s worthy draw at a good Wimborne side confirmed this. We overcome some early questionable refereeing decisions and a first-half Wimborne goal, to fight back and level early in the second-half, as James Barough’s run and good finish levelled the scoring. We did have a fair amount of possession, but failed to take that odd chance, in the last thirty minutes of play.
With the point at Winklebury, we now sit in ninth place with our record at Pld 25 Won 10 Drawn 4 Lost 11 and 34pts. Our away record sits at 3 wins, 3 draws and 6 losses. The strikeforce should see the return of Robbie Gallagher to the line-up, who will join George Reid (eight goals), and Joe Barough. The long-awaited return of Cheick Sylla, was finally over as he played the final twenty minutes of the game, and could depending on how attacking we set-up, get a start tomorrow. Ore Bello who have picked up a knock last week and Dan Rowe are also good options. Connor Whiteley is also another forward option if required.
The midfield continues to impress with Josh Green & Tom Blake leading the way with impressive performances in recent weeks. Add D’Andre Brown’s strong performances and the midfield looks pretty good, especially with James Dickson back in the running for a matchday squad slot. Ben Cook is another good option for playing time.
The defence again performed well, and got stronger as the game wore on. Unless the Manager wishes to change the set-up or rest a player, then this should leave the back four as right-back James Clark, the centre-backs Billy Upton & Scott Armsworth, and Joe O’Loughlin on the left. Elliott Legg is a good option off the bench, whilst the fitness of centre-back Jack Ball is not known, but must be close to a return to the squad. Simon Grant who made an excellent save from the penalty he gave away, will once more have the goalkeeper gloves tomorrow.
So with Berkhamsted twitter feed confirming that the “Game Goes Ahead As Planned”, then I would expect a very close competitive game tomorrow afternoon, and thus chances must be taken when they come along.
Would be good to see a number of Stoke fans getting to the game and getting behind the boys, as we continue to push up the table.
Let’s go Stoke !
Match Preview by Martin French..
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