Match Preview: Bet Victor Division One South
Basingstoke Town v Moneyfields
When: Tuesday 18th February 2020
Where: The Simplyhealth Ground, Hillier Way, Winchester. SO23 7SR
Moneyfields (Nickname – The Monies), Average 2019-20 Home Attendance 73
The game originally scheduled back on Boxing Day 2019, still has the same worry (weather permitting), and sees us in another important home game against Portsmouth-based Moneyfields, as we look to increase the gap on bottom-placed Barnstaple Town.
Moneyfields, known as the Monies, are managed by David Carter, and like us sat idle last weekend. Prior to that, also like us they also beat Mangotsfield Utd (1-0), just three days after we had beaten them.
They currently stand in 18th place in the league with an overall record of PLD 23 WON 6 DRAWN 6 LOST 11 GF 35 GA 47 PTS 24. On the road they won three and lost eight games. The wins coming at bottom-placed Barnstaple, lowly AFC Totton and that amazing come from behind victory at Melksham where they trailed 4-1 at halftime, and then put five past Melksham in the second-half running out 4-6 winners on the road. But that win was back in October, so now is as good as any time to play them.
Their leading goal-scorer is 29-year-old forward Stephen Hutchings, previously of Bournemouth and Havant & Waterlooville, he has 13 league goals to-date. Fellow forward Joseph Briggs has 6 league goals, whilst defender Conor Bailey (27) has four goals, whilst ex-Gosport forward Ryan Pennery has added 3 goals.
Having beaten us on this pitch back in September in the League Cup on penalties after 1-1 after 90 minutes, they will come with some confidence of getting something out of the game.
As for your Basingstoke Town side, following our 2-1 home win against Mangotsfield, we now face four games in 12 days, with back-to-back home games, as we face Paulton Rovers at home this Saturday.
With that latest win we sit in 19th place with our record now as PLD 23 Won 5 Drawn 3 Lost 15 GF 32 GA 63 with 17pts.
With Ben Wright missing against Mangotsfield, it was George Hallahan and Bradley Wilson who led the forward line, and with the return of experienced Simon Dunn, it was surprising it took us 45 minutes to open the scoring. The second-half continued in the same way, and it was Wilson who doubled our lead early on. However, numerous wasted chances, nearly came back to bite us, as Mangotsfield scored with 11 minutes to go. The win now gives us a home record of 4 Wins, 1 Draw and 6 Losses.
This is likely to be Bradley Wilson’s last game in a Stoke shirt, as he departs for Australia later this month. George Hallahan is sure to retain his starting role, so it could be both Ben’s Wright and Dillon starting on the bench.
In midfield we are likely to start with Simon Dunn, Harrison Cliff, Ben Cook and Claudio Herbert.
Whilst at the back will Dean Stow switch to right back, to allow a centre-back pairing of Josh Edwards and Scott Armsworth, and assuming Adam Everiss at left back.
Even if the game goes ahead, the pitch is bound to cut up and I hope we can handle the conditions on the night.
Three points would be a great start to a big twelve days.
Match Preview by Martin French..
English 
Polish 