Match Preview: Basingstoke Town v Torquay Utd FA Trophy Saturday 24th November 2018

Match Preview: FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round
Basingstoke Town v Torquay Utd (The Gulls)
When: Saturday 24th November 2018 Kick-off 3pm
Where: The Camrose, Basingstoke, RG22 6EZ
So, we return to the FA Trophy following two defeats in the league and a need for a big-game effort against National League South promotion chasers Torquay Utd and a potential £5,000 at stake for the winners.
Yes, The Gulls who currently sit in 4th place in the league, will be looking more at getting promotion back into the football league and yes it is rumoured that they will be resting one or two players this weekend, but they have a score to settle against Basingstoke following the 3-0 loss back in October 2015. That day there fans booed their players off the pitch after such a poor performance, but thought we were excellent and one of Jason Bristow’s greatest matches under his management.
Torquay Utd’s cup performances this season have not been great, as they got beaten in the FA Cup at home to league rivals Woking 0-1.
The Gulls away league record however shows a much more challenging worry for us, with 3 wins, 4 draws and just one defeat and that was at Oxford City way back in August.
Their leading goal-scorer is local lad, forward Jamie Reid with 11 goals this season, with young apprentice forward Saikou Janneh who has scored 6 goals in his limited period in the first team but that did include a first-half hat-trick last Saturday at home to Concord Rangers.
As for us, well after the good win against Enfield Town, Terry’s Boys have slipped to two straight defeats, the bad loss at home to Merthyr, and then somehow with an experimental line-up we lost 1-2 loss at Harrow Borough despite missing numerous chances on Tuesday night.
Whatever formation TB decides to go with, I expect it will include starting roles for the Sam’s, Argent, Smart & Deadfield, whilst Jack McKnight will look to continue on his goal-scoring run from his midfield role. I would also expect Charlie Kennedy to be back in his Captain role in midfield as well.
More critical is what formation/line-up he will go with at the back and whether he will go with one or two holding midfield players.
What is also vital is that we get off to a good start to get the Camrose crowd behind the team early on, as Torquay are expected to bring decent support to the game.
With the match being segregated this time, I’m hoping that there won’t be a repeat of the crowd issues last time.
On paper we are clear underdogs, but we were 3 years ago, so if we can bring that ‘Fortress Camrose’ attitude back this Saturday, this could be another great game to remember.
Match Preview by Martin French..