Match Preview: Isthmian South Central Division
Basingstoke Town Vs Tooting & Mitcham Utd
When: Saturday 19th November 2022 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Winklebury Stadium, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Tooting & Mitcham (Nickname – Terrors), Avg 2022-23 Home Att 70
Admission Prices: Adults £10, Concessions £7, Under 16’s £3, U12’s £1 Match Programmes £2
Last Saturday’s victory on the road was for once a show of clinical second-half finishing, as we ran out 5-1 winners at bottom-placed Merstham. Two early missed chances, was followed by us going a goal behind, to one of many numerous Merstham corners. A mistimed tackle on Bradley Wilson inside the box, saw James Clark leaving the keeper in no doubt, as he smashed it home from the penalty spot, and we went into the break level. The second-half then became the Reid/Wilson show, as within minutes of the restart, Wilson found Reid, who rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home from an acute angle. After what seemed a 10-minute bombardment in our own half, we then broke clear through Bradley’s pace, and once again a timed pass to Reidy, saw him leave the keeper motionless, as he curled the ball in off the far post. The fourth came from another silky run, which ended him finding Stefan Brown five yards out who clipped the ball home. The fifth and final goal was all Wilson’s who outpaced the defence once again as he slid it past the oncoming giant of a keeper, into the net.
We turn our attention to Tooting & Mitcham who last season were one of the few teams, we did the double over. We started with a narrow 3-2 at Winklebury back last November, through goals by Dunn, Reid & Wilson, then a Stefan Brown goal was the difference between us back in March earlier this year.
Our Opponents
The Terrors continue to be jointly managed by Ashley Bosah & Cornelius Nwadialor, who have both progressed through the club as they previously managed their U23 side.
They head into this game just one place above the automatic relegation places, with an overall record of Pld 13 Won 2 Drawn 3 Lost 6 with 9pts. The two wins were a recent 2-1 win against lowly Bedfont Sports, and an August 2-0 win on the island of Guernsey. Last weekend they took an early lead at playoff hopefuls Walton & Hersham, before conceding a very late goal as they went down 2-1 on the day.
Like most teams at the bottom, one of their issues is scoring goals, and like Merstham last week, they currently have just 9 league goals.
Their leading goalscorer is forward Enoch Ako-Adeji, who has four goals, three in the league, whilst Eddie M’Bango who joined them from former tenants Tooting Bec has two league goals. M’Bango however has been a used substitute in recent games. His role has been taken over by Ibitayo Oyebola, who is yet to score after joining from Corinthian Casuals last month, along with Harvey Browne, who has one Velocity cup goal this season, and previously played for Barking & Cray Wanderers.
In midfield they have Jordan Clarke, who has two goals on the season, joined from Haywards Heath last season. Baye Ndiaye came through the Terrors academy programme, and was voted the players player of the year last season. Shamal Edwards is another midfielder who has had a number of stints at the club over the last five years, having also played for Chalfont St Peter & Bedfont Sports in the last couple of seasons. Jordan Clarke, joined mid-season last year from Haywards Heath, and is regarded as a positive influence on and off the pitch and has a stunning strike.
In defence they have 22 year-old central defender Nicolai Krokhin in his second season at the club having joined from Carshalton Athletic. Nathan Daly, is a commanding defensive player, who has previously played at many levels of non-league football, including Sutton Utd, Corinthian Casuals and Hythe Town. Another recent signing was Alex Felipe, who is in his third spell at the club, and played for South Park last season. Kynan Kirlew-Wright is another successful graduate, who has made his mark this season at the back.
The man between the sticks will be James Shaw who is in his second stint at the club after stints at Barking & Tonbridge Angels.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
A four goal second-half explosion with George Reid & Bradley Wilson the main protagonists saw us leave the Moatsiders with all three points last weekend, leaving us in sixth place and sets us up against another team at the bottom of the table.
Bradley Wilson the creator of four goals and the finisher of the fifth, now sits with eleven goals on the season, whilst Reidy’s second brace of the season, now leaves him with eight goals on the season. Ezio Touray missed two early chances last week, but still has 12 goals on the season. Last weekend Sam Argent looked to be in an attacking midfield role, and may play that role again tomorrow. Stefan Brown who scored his first goal of the season, is likely to continue as an option of the bench. The same with Marcio Neves.
Trying to work out who will be in the midfield each week, is like playing Russian roulette with Vladmir Putin, but assume James Clark will have one of the starting roles. Aiden Lewis is also a likely option, as his presence in the middle, grew as the game went on.
The defence under a lot of pressure last weekend, worked their guts out in making last ditch tackles and numerous blocks at points in the game, and thus should remain as Scott Armsworth & Billy Upton as the centre-backs, whilst Ben Mason patrols the right back slot, whilst Callum Winchcombe as looked good in the left back role, which leaves James Haworth, if fit, a possible option off the bench. Nathan Smart, will be the back-up centre-back, whilst hopefully Dan Williamson can earn a slot on the bench.
Academy signee Louis Wilson who made a late entrance to the game, could well be an option of the bench again.
Mark Scott, made some key saves in each half last week, and will be our starting keeper once again.
Manager Dan Brownlie will have his gameplan ready depending on what his squad options are, but will feel we have enough to get our third win on the bounce.
It is currently expected to be dry but cold, and it is hoped that many football fans who normally attend other clubs matches will find their way to Winklebury, and boost the crowd and bring in much needed money into the club, so a good winning performance could bring those fans back to future games.
Match Preview by Martin French..