Match Preview: FA Trophy 2nd Round Qualifier Round
Basingstoke Town v Enfield Town (The Towners)
When: Saturday 10th November 2018
Where: The Camrose, Basingstoke, RG22 6EZ
After last week’s unlucky loss at home to League Leaders Weymouth, we return to the next round of the FA Trophy with £4,000 at stake for the winners as we entertain Enfield Town to the Camrose.
Whilst Basingstoke Town’s journey to becoming a Community Club goes ever on, Enfield Town from the Bostik League Premier Division, state they are the country’s first Supporter Owned football club, when they were formed back in 2001. They currently sit in 3rd place behind second placed Dorking Wanderers and leaders Tonbridge Angels.
After Saturday’s draw at home 2-2 against Haringey Borough, they have a record after 14 games, of 6 wins, an amazing 7 draws and just 1 loss. In fact, their record shows that they are better on the road with 4 of their 6 wins away from Queen Elizabeth Stadium. This includes a recent 1-2 win at league leaders Tonbridge Angels. They are a club who do like to score goals, with 34 in the league, which includes 6 against Whitehawk, and more noticeably 6 away to Burgess Hill and 6 away to Corinthian Casuals.
Their only loss came on the road at Margate 2-1 last month.
The Towners come to the Camrose following a 0-1 win at Lowestoft in the first round qualifier and will showcase ex-Billericay 30yr old striker Billy Brickell, as one of their main goal-scoring threats. Brickell has 9 goals this season, whilst fellow striker Liam Hope has added 4. In midfield they have ex-Chesham Utd player Sam Youngs who found the net 5 times and in defence Taofiq Olomowewe with 3 goals.
Defensively they have conceded 16 goals in the league, but like Basingstoke it’s more about how many goals you score, rather than concede.
Under the new management of Terry Brown, after Jason Bristow’s decision to take a larger role at Eastleigh Town, we will look to further our progress in the Trophy.
Our record in this trophy, is pretty horrific and despite beating Wimborne 4-2 in the first round, we will need to be at our best on Saturday, if we are to continue into the later rounds of this competition.
Last week Captain Charlie Kennedy & Sam Deadfield under-pinned the best midfield performance of the season, and with Jack McKnight roving forward alongside Sam Smart, we hope to create plenty of chances for our forwards. The question is, will the maestro go with a new formation and start either, or both Ben Wright & Mitchell Parker alongside Sammie Argent up-top?
Defensively we have looked far better with Rob Gerrard at left back, which has allowed Dan Bayliss to move back into one of the centre-back roles alongside Shane Hollamby. Dean Stow will no doubt make his numerous runs down the right, but he needs to be aware that he must still cover his role at right back.
Roving winger Sam Smart, has improved his performances the past two weeks and I’m hoping for a dazzling performance from him this week in front of a decent Cup crowd.
Last Saturday we produced the performance without the goals, so I’m hoping Argent, McKnight and the supporting cast will find the net more often this week.
The weather is mixed for this Saturday, but for all those Enfield fans expected to swell the home gate, Basingstoke Town’s Supporters Club will be holding another beer tent outside the clubhouse. We will have all real ales and bottled lagers at just £2.50 – £3, so please come along and sample a local beer in aid of the Community Club.
Away from Donkey Road, Enfield have only kept one clean sheet (Lowestoft), so this could be a really entertaining match with cup glory at stake.
Odds please on Friday.
Match Preview by Martin French
English 
Polish 