Match Preview: Bet Victor Division One South
Basingstoke Town v Mangotsfield United
When: Saturday 8th February 2020 Kick-off 3pm
Where: The Simplyhealth Ground, Hillier Way, Winchester. SO23 7SR
Mangotsfield Utd (Nickname – The Field), Average 2019-20 Home Attendance 145
Well after last week’s performance at Highworth in a game that seemed under control for 15 minutes at the start of the second-half, until the same old basic errors killed that lead and ultimately all three points.
We now face a team that clearly has a number of internal issues, and as I write this preview, players have departed the club.
We played the Field at Cossham Street back in October, and with a depleted team the players rose to the challenge and despite going behind early in the second-half, we took the game to them and Mikey Davis earned us a point with a close range finish on the hour. We then lost Ryan Suckling to a straight red card, but we were still able to hold on to share the points.
It is sad to see any club (well almost any club), go through such bad times, the Mangotsfield clubs budget cut, the Management team of Ollie Price and Neil Simons resigned, but still thankfully chose to remain to cover the Field’s game against Evesham.
Rumours that the players were not paid last Saturday have also been circulating!
Since then U18’s Manager Paul Gilchrist has stepped in to run the first team squad, but with confirmed players such as midfielder Jordan Rodgers (4 goals) and striker James Ollis (9 goals), now departed, others are likely to jump ship as well.
Well after last Saturday’s 3-5 loss, the Field dropped down to 15th place, but sit comfortably fourteen points ahead of bottom place with a record of PLD 24 WON 8 DRAWN 4 LOST 12 GF 44 GA 52 PTS 28. Their away record sits at 3 Wins and 8 losses from 11 games.
As of this moment, we are unclear if leading striker Daniel Demkiv is still at the club. Demkiv 23, has 13 league goals.
With the U18’s coach in charge, it could be a case that a number of U18’s maybe part of the match-day squad.
Moving onto your Basingstoke side, well apart from another defeat last Saturday, there has been more comings and goings around the playing squad. Midfielder Jordan Edwards (1 goal), left for Marlow, Jordan Alves has moved to Reading City on loan till the end of the season and just announced is the intended departure of Bradley Wilson (3 goals), to Australia in two weeks-time. On the plus side however, is last weeks arrival of ex-Stokie George Hallahan, who in just over 45 minutes netted twice on his return. Unfortunately, that was all the team could muster on a day of defensive errors.
Also added to the squad is another ex-Stokie midfielder Simon Dunn on a dual loan deal from Slough Town. Simon will bring experience and control to the playing side and will be in the playing squad for this Saturday.
Our record now sits at PLD 22 Won 4 Drawn 3 Lost 15 GF 30 GA 62 with 14pts (1pt deducted)
Should be about time that defender Scott Armsworth is back in the squad for this weekends game, which could see a shake-up at the back. It will be interesting to see if on-loan midfielder Elliott Bolton has returned from injury and if he features in the squad.
Will Dan Brownlie look to put Freddie Gee between the posts this Saturday, is only something he will know and decide.
George Hallahan as been told he will be in the starting line-up so could replace either of the Ben’s upfront, who were ineffectual last week.
I am currently not aware of any new injuries to the team.
With the ongoing drama with the Mangotsfield team, we could not be playing them at a more opportune time, but it will still need us to cut out the continuous errors in the team, and tae our chances when they come along.
With all the ongoing drama around the club, now is the time for the fans to get around the team and support them.
Match Preview by Martin French..
English 
Polish 