Match Preview: Southern League Premier Division South
Hanwell Town vs Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 25th April 2026 Kick-off 3pm
Venue: The Powerday Stadium, Perivale Lane, Greenford UB6 8TL
Hanwell Town (The Geordies), 2025-26 League Position 16th
Our win at Hungerford last Saturday confirmed our status in the league for next season, which was then proceeded with our Tuesday night victory in the Hampshire Snr Cup final against Sholing.
Tomorrow we face Hanwell Town in our last league game of the season. We played Hanwell back at Winklebury on a Tuesday night in January and in a game that had plenty of chances, goals by Tom Blake, Ore Bello and a third by George Reid, were enough to beat the Geordies 3-2.
Our Opponents
The Geordies continue to be managed by Chris Moore who has a wealth of league & non-league football experience, having as a player played for the likes of Uxbridge, Northwood, Dagenham & Redbridge & Brentford. He’s took over sole control in 2022-23 season, after Jt Manager Wayne Carter departed. He previously managed at Egham Town.
Hanwell have been above us in the league until the last couple of games, and now sit in sixteenth place with a record of Pld 41 Won 10 Drawn 13 Lost 18 and 43pts. Their home record sits at 8 wins, 7 draws and 5 losses, with their last two home games a 4-0 crushing on Weymouth, and then a 1-1 draw against playoff challengers Farnham Town. The Geordies have made a number of changes to their strikeforce since we played them three months back, and is now led by Henry Snee, who has taken over the goal-scoring for the team, and as seven goals since his arrival in March. He has also played for Stotfold FC, Hitchin Town, Biggleswade United and St Albans City. Also joining in March was well-known Harvey Bradbury, whose CV includes numerous clubs EFL clubs, as well as non-league clubs joined from Havant, and has added three goals since arriving. Ex-Sheffield Wednesday U21 striker Luke Cook, has now also started to find the net with five goals since the end of February. Joe Waight is another striker, who has played for clubs such as Haringey, Aveley and more recently US university side Seton Hall Pirates, but has been a oncoming substitute in recent games.
The midfield starts with long-serving Callum Woodcock, who not only is in his seventh campaign with the club, but now leads the clubs goalscoring this season, with eight goals. NB: his disciplinary record is not the best, with I red 7 11 yellow cards this season. Harry Hoath, joined at the start of this season, from Marlow, having previously been at Thatcham Town. Eddie Cooper is a young midfielder, who joined from Aldershot U21’s, and has been one of the first names on the teamsheet this season.
25 year-old midfielder, Seidou Sanogo, joined from Truro City, and has previously played for Folkestone Invicta, Chatham Town and East Grinstead Town.
In defence, 6’4” Jack Matton, who arrived in mid-February will be sidelined through suspension, and will be replaced by the ever reliable Dwayne Duncan, who is in his eighth season with the club, and is known for his threat from corners. In recent weeks Ibrahim Sankou has been playing in the right-back role, having previously played at Beaconsfield & Ascot United. Elijah Oludunjoye will make up the Geordie defence, and is known for his long-throw speciality. He previously played for Marlow, CB Hounslow & Virginia Water. In goal will be Sam Beasant, who now captains the team and is the son of former Wimbledon keeper Dave Beasant. He has played for Beaconsfield, and numerous league and Non-League clubs including Maidenhead Utd, Cambridge Utd & Chelmsford City.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Well what a difference three weeks can make, with wins against Sholing, Hungerford & Tiverton, pushing any doubts of relegation into the bin for another season. Then Ore Bello’s brace on Tuesday night saw us lift the Hampshire Snr Cup once more, and now gives Bello seven goals on the season, of which four were from the penalty spot. Both he and the hard-working Joe Grant (four goals), have been an integral part of this revival. When you add George Reid & Robbie Gallagher, both architects of our recent penalty decisions, it has given us a powerful attacking threat, when most needed. Unless things change, then these four will likely be the attacking threat tomorrow afternoon. Dan Rowe is likely to feature once more, whist it unclear on the injury status of Cheick Sylla, who can relax and put his feet up and plan for next season.
Going into our last league game, we have a realistic chance of finishing in twelfth place, which would have been unthinkable only a matter of six weeks ago. Our record sits at Pld 41 Won 14 Drawn 9 Lost 18 and 51pts. Our away record sits at 5 Wins, 5 draws & 10 losses.
The midfield should see Josh Green lead this area, with potentially D’Andre Brown and/or Ben Cook in support. It would also be good to see Lloyd Snell win a starting role tomorrow, instead of being an active substitute in the past two games. Charlie North could well earn a spot on the subs bench as well.
The defence have stood firm when most needed and will likely see just one change tomorrow, with on-loan Zach Ioannides returning to his right-back role, before returning to Luton Town. Manning the left will be Joe O’Loughlin once more, which leaves our captain Billy Upton to partner Jack Ball, with the potential depending on how we set-up, with Scott Armsworth an option to start or one of the substitutes. Elliott Legg & James Clark are probable options off the bench too. Simon Grant will be the keeper between the sticks for the final time this season.
A win tomorrow will nicely end a decent run of form, when it was most critically needed, and ensures our return to step 3 football when the players return in July.
With this and if the very strong rumours are to be believed, then we have at least one player, who will be playing his last game for the club tomorrow, and it would be good if fans would stay behind after the game, and give him a proper Stoke send-off.
Let’s Go Stoke, one more win !
Match Preview by Martin French..
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