Match Preview: Isthmian League South Central Division
Ashford Town v Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 23rd October 2021 Kick-off 3pm
Where: The Robert Parker Stadium, Short Lane, Stanwell , Middlesex. TW19 7BH
Ashford Town (Nickname – The Tangerines), Average 2021-22 Home Attendance 166
Admission Prices: There are two sets of prices.
Pre match-day online prices are
Adults £8.50, Concessions £6.50 & Under 16’s Free if accompanied by a paying adult, otherwise £2
Match-day prices are
Adults £10, Concessions £7.50 & Under 16’s Free if accompanied by a paying adult, otherwise £2
Match-Day Programmes £2
For those brave hardy supporters who took the trip upto Northwood on Tuesday evening, I am sure the journey home would have been more satisfying with a tight one-nil victory and another three points.
This Saturday we face Ashford Town and a meeting-up of ex-Hartley management as Dan Brownlie and Ashford’s Luke Tuffs were part of the Hartley Wintney push up the non-league ladder.
Our Opponents
The Ashford Town (Middlesex), ground sits very close to the Heathrow flight path, and you will see numerous planes flying in and out during your Saturday afternoon visit to Robert Parker Stadium.
As stated they are managed by Luke Tuffs, who joined the club in April 2020, after managing Surrey-based Knaphill, prior to his role at Hartley Wintney.
The Tangerines like us played Tuesday night, but unlike us they lost, losing 1-2 at home to Chertsey Town. Also unlike us Tuesday night was the first of four consecutive home games, whilst we have four back-to-back games away from Winklebury.
After Tuesday’s result they now currently sit, in 15th place, with a league record of Played 8 Won 2 Drawn 0 Lost 6 GF 12 GA 16 PTS 6
They started the season with a couple of losses at Chalfont St Peter (2-0), and a (2-3) loss at home to Bedfont Sports, before picking up their first league win of the season with a 5-0 thrashing of Staines Town, but another home loss to Sutton Common Rovers, was followed by their second win of the season at Westfield (2-3).
However since then, three losses Uxbridge, Marlow & Chertsey have them in a worrying downward trend, as we face them.
As for their squad, there is little information that I can find but their leading goal-scorers are ex-Hartley Wintney striker Jack French with five goals (2 in the league), ex-Bracknell striker Perry Coles with three goals (1 league goal), and Matt Bunyan ex-Camberley Town striker has 3 goals (2 in the league)
They do have ex-Stoke attacking midfielder Dylan Ive, who have left in 2020 after failing to win a starting place on the team.
Your Basingstoke Town Side
Well another close affair Tuesday, saw us battle through the weather and determined Northolt side to earn all three points on a night more suited to ducks than good quality football.
We enter tomorrow afternoon’s match still in 6th place just outside the playoff spots with us still unbeaten, at PLD 6 Won 5 Drawn 1 Lost 0 GF 10 GA 6 Points 13
Conor Lynch’s volleyed finish the other night, was just another sign of his class and confidence going into games. He now has 12 goals on the season (5 in the league), and with the surprising appearance to those present, it was with great relief to see our other star striker Stefan Brown make a short appearance on the night. Bradley Wilson worked hard on a night & pitch that did little to help our slick passing moves.
So the question being asked by many supporters, is who will start up front alongside Conor Lynch? Assuming Brown starts on the bench, Bradley Wilson and a possible start for winger George Reid, who also had a nice appearance on Tuesday night could change how we set-up.
If Reid starts on the bench, the midfield led by Simon Dunn, with Ben Cook D’Andre Brown & Anton Rodgers, assuming no injuries appear set in the line-up tomorrow.
In defence the return of well-liked Nathan Smart looks to strengthen the central defensive area, who played alongside Daryl Wollers at Northwood. Both Scott Armsworth & Shaun Dallimore may still be not quite ready to return from injury, which leaves Dan Williamson and Aiden Lewis as good bets in the full-back roles.
In goal Paul Strudley looked as secure as possible in what was difficult wet & greasy conditions.
As stated there are a number of players who could be sitting on the bench, which should include Lloyd Snell & McKoy Palmer.
The weather seems dry if cold and what many Stoke fans will expect to see come ten-to-five tomorrow evening, is that we have secured three more points to keep in touch with the teams above.
Match Preview by Martin French..
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