Match Preview: Basingstoke Town v Tooting & Mitcham Utd Saturday 13th November 2021

Match Preview: Isthmian League South Central Division
Basingstoke Town v Tooting & Mitcham Utd
When: Saturday 13th November 2021 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Winklebury Sports Complex, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF.
Tooting & Mitcham Utd (Nickname – Terrors), Average 2021-22 Home Attendance 232
Admission Prices: Adults £10, Concessions £7 Aged 13-17 £3 Aged 12 and Under £1
Having now played both the first and second placed teams in our division over the last seven days, we can now reflect on what was and what could have been, as we hopefully host a less challenging team in Tooting & Mitcham Utd tomorrow afternoon.

Our Opponents
The Terrors or Stripes are jointly managed by Ashley Bosah & Cornelius Nwadialor, who have both progressed through the club as they previously managed their U23 side.
They currently sit in 11th place with a current record of PLD 10 WON 3 DRAWN 1 LOST 6 GF 16 GA 19 PTS 10

T&M started their league campaign with losses at Westfield (3-0) and at home to Thatcham Town (1-2). They then went on a mini-run, picking up seven points from nine with three home games, Sutton Common Rovers,(1-1) and two wins Northwood (7-3) and Chipstead 2-1). Three further losses were then halted as they won 2-1 in Guernsey. However a loss at Ashford (2-1), last week leaves them in mid-table.

In the cups they faired less well than us, losing in a replay at tiny Erith & Belvedere, and losing in the FA Trophy 4-1 against one of our old foes Whitehawk. However being in a London-based club, they still remain in the London Cup and the Surrey Cup.

Moving onto their squad, their leading goal-scorer is striker Dan Williams, with eight goals, four in the league, winger Andrew Sesay has added four goals, three in that 7-3 thrashing of Northwood, and joined them from the now defunct Whyteleafe, having played previously at Tonbridge Angels. Behind that there are a few other goals from a number of other players.
Unfortunately there is very little information around most of their squad, but most of their players have either come through their junior teams or other local sides.
It is clear Tooting & Mitcham, when you remove their seven goal beating of Northwood, they seem to struggle to score goals.

Your Basingstoke Town Side
The very late loss at Bracknell and late dramatic conceding of two points against ten-man Uxbridge was a gut wrenching feeling for our team and fans alike and having picked up just one point from a possible six we still sit in 7th place in the division with an overall record now of PLD 9 WON 6 DRAWN 2 LOST 1 GF 16 GA 11 PTS 20
Even worse from Tuesday’s game was the fact that we appeared to pick up a number of further worrying injuries and it will be interesting to see how Manager Dan Brownlie will view this line-up and formation in the face of three games in 8 days and with another tough game coming up next Tuesday evening.

Forward Conor Lynch continues to take some heavy knocks, but received the welcome full game support from Stefan Brown against what was a good Uxbridge team. If both are fit, will we look to start both in an attempt to kill the game off early, or hold one forward back if the need to change the game is required.

Fellow forward players like Bradley Wilson has played most of this season, and could do we a rest, and with both McKoy Palmer and George Reid, second-half substitutions, one or both could earn a starting role.
Fans saw our midfield star and captain Simon Dunn hobble off after a nasty looking tackle, and unless this was precautionary, looks to be sidelined for this game at least. Ben Cook, the third player who came off the bench Tuesday, is likely to replace him and could be wearing Dunny’s armband as well. D’Andre Brown & Lloyd Snell who continue to impress will also be in contention tomorrow. It is unclear why Anton Rodgers missed the Uxbridge game, but hopefully he will also be available tomorrow.

The defence is likely to see more changes and this must be our big concern, with Scott Armsworth sidelined, Daryl Wollers serving his one-match ban, and Shaun Dallimore still sidelined.
This would leave Nathan Smart, Daniel Williamson, Aiden Lewis & James Haworth in the mix for the starting roles. Paul Strudley will once again and quite rightly be wearing the keeper’s top tomorrow.

With the weather expected to be dry and seasonably warm tomorrow, your support for our team is vital to help get us back to winning ways.
Let’s get behind Dan and the Boys and look forward to three points tomorrow.

Match Preview by Martin French..

SHARE

LEAVE A REPLY