Seven days from our loss against the Money Men, we went back on the road in another six-pointer, this time at Uxbridge. Outnumbering their fans two-to one, in the enlarged crowd of 188, saw Basingstoke dominate from the start and after some early misses, a Mahlondo Martin headbutt, sending the home-side down to ten-men, it was Stoke who deservedly took the lead just past the half-hour, as Stefan Brown finished from close range. Further attacks failed to double the lead and despite the occasional Uxbridge attack, it finally took Stoke’s young academy star Lloyd Snell to put the game away with ten minutes left. With the two-nil victory, and other results around, Basingstoke jumped back into the playoff places.
The Money-Men (Bracknell), remain far and clear at the top and are just three weeks away from confirming their Champions slot, took on their latest victims Northwood and two first-half finishes by Seb Bowerman, that takes him to the top of the league’s goalscoring chart, and a McLeish-White finish early at the start of the second-half was more enough to secure their latest win.
Rumours that Bracknell had more forwards than fans at their home game were confirmed as just wishful thinking by the Money-Man Manager, as a pitiful 267 were present at Bottom Meadow.
Chertsey Town strengthened their hold on second-place with a four-two home victory against Tooting & Mitcham Utd. After early goals for either side, the Curfews took the lead just before halftime, and with the game staying close, it was the home-side who added to their lead before Tooting pulled a goal back, only for Chertsey to put the game to bed with their fourth in added time. Chertsey now hold a four point lead over third spot. Bedfont Sports moved up two places to third, with a six-nil thrashing of Chalfont St Peter. The six goals were scored by different scorers.
With Stoke in fourth, it was Hanwell’s turn to come unstuck as they hosted an improving Binfield side, and despite Hanwell taking the lead, a goal by James Beauchamp levelled the score before a goal by Sean Moore and a second by Beauchamp just before the hour, mean’t all three points left with the Moles. With the loss, Hanwell dropped to fifth. With Uxbridge dropping to sixth, Marlow failed in their chance to move up, as they were the latest team to arrive and return from Guernsey with nothing but a loss on their league record, as the Greens won two-nil.
The playoff table looks like this; PLD W D L GF GA +/- PTS
1 | Bracknell Town | 28 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 69 | 10 | +59 | 76 | |
2 | Chertsey Town | 28 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 57 | 34 | +23 | 58 | |
3 | Bedfont Sports | 28 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 64 | 35 | +29 | 54 | |
4 | Basingstoke Town | 27 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 52 | 36 | +16 | 54 | |
5 | Hanwell Town | 27 | 16 | 5 | 6 | 65 | 29 | +36 | 53 | |
6 | Uxbridge | 27 | 15 | 7 | 5 | 49 | 31 | +18 | 52 | |
7 | Marlow | 27 | 15 | 5 | 7 | 43 | 28 | +15 | 50 |
South Park sit in eight after a two-one win at Westfield. Chipstead and Ashford Town met in a mid-table clash, and three first half goals sent the Chips above their hosts. Striker Andy Kabuikusomo got the first two and Jack Beadle added the third.
The remaining game saw Staines Town suffer their latest defeat as Thatcham Town visited Wheatsheaf park and came away with a six-two victory. The Swans were already five-down before getting on the scoresheet and remain marooned at the bottom of the league.
Attendances – This week’s highest attendance was 690 as Guernsey hosted Marlow. However just 77 bothered to watch promotion chasing Bedfont Sports host Chalfont St Peter.
Reds –Four red cards in the league this week, which were; Chipstead’s Daryl Coleman, Hanwell’s Andy O’Brien, Staines Town’s Shayan Gharmarinezhad and Uxbridge’s Mahlondo Martin
Matches This Week – Just three matches this week, with two tonight as Hanwell Town host Thatcham Town & Staines Town host Uxbridge. Then Wednesday sees The Money-Men host Guernsey.