Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Basingstoke Town vs Bath City
When: Saturday 222nd August 2026 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Bath City (The Romans), 2025-26 Relegated From NL South
Our first win and three points of the season, came at disliked rival Poole Town, and was pinned by a strong all-round team effort, and two quality strikes from on-loan striker Miles Obodo.
We now face an old ex-National League South side, Bath City, who we have not played since a 2-0 FA Trophy defeat at Twerton Park, back in November 2016.
Our Opponents
The Romans are managed by former City midfielder Scott Bartlett, who took over the reins in March 2026. As a player he began his career on the books of AFC Bournemouth before joining Cirencester Town, then Salisbury City, where he became a permanent fixture for the Whites, spending nine years with them. After just playing games ten games for the Romans, injuries forced him to retire around 2011. He became academy manager at the Forest Green Rovers, where he returned after a brief spell managing Weston Super Mare manager, where he returned spending six years, before a spell at Eastleigh, before joining Bath.
The Romans were relegated last season, sitting in the last of the relegation places in the NL South, but have started the season with ambitions of an immediate return, with two wins, at Sholing 2-1 and a 1-0 home win last Saturday against Hanworth Villa. Wedged in between that was a 1-1 draw on the road at Plymouth Parkway. This leaves them in 3rd place with an early record of Pld 3 Won 2 Drawn 1 Lost 0 GF 4, GA 2 and 7pts. Their strikeforce includes Harry Parsons, who joined in June, from Chippenham Town where he spent two seasons, scoring 19 goals in that time. Other clubs include, Banbury United, Farnborough and Maidenhead United & Weymouth. 33-year-old Scott Wilson, is in his second spell with City, after starting his career in Bristol City’s youth set-up, playing for a number of local clubs, before joining Eastleigh in 2016 for a season, then two seasons at Macclesfield Town where he spent two successful seasons, scoring 25 times in 76 games. He had spells at Oldham Athletic, Notts County, Dagenham & Redbridge, Aldershot Town & Weston Super Mare, but returned to the Romans in March. Well-travelled Reuben Reid, joined in July, starting in Plymouth Argyle’s academy, he has played for numerous league clubs (many loan deals), such as Rochdale, Torquay United, Wycombe Wanderers, Brentford, Rotherham United, West Bromwich Albion, but more recently for non-league clubs Weston Super Mare & Weymouth. Another striker is Owen Windsor, is back for another season after joining in October 2025. He played at youth level for Swindon Town & Southampton, then Cirencester Town in 2018. He then signed a two-year deal at West Bromwich Albion, before spells at a few league clubs, before heading to Australia to play for the MetroStars.
The midfield contains Ollie Chamberlain, who joined in July 2026, having helped Taunton Town win the Southern League Premier South title in 2021/22, as part of his nine years at the Somerset club. He spent a short time at Weston-Super-Mare, before returning to Taunton in February. Bath-born defensive midfielder Jordan Tillson, joined City in July 2024. During his early years with the Exeter City, he spent loan spells with Gloucester City, Chippenham Town and Weston Super Mare, leaving Exeter permanently in 2020 to join Scottish Premiership side Ross County. He was a regular for two seasons before joining Dundee United on loan for the 2023/24 campaign, helping them lift the Championship title and promotion back to the top division. With the expiration of his Ross County contract he choose to rejoin his hometown club. With them will be James Morton whose in his third spell at Twerton Park. Another Bristol City academy player, he spent 18 months with the Romans, with his one goal named as the 2018/19 goal of the season. He then spent four years back at Bristol City, then had loan deals at a couple of league clubs, before his second stint with City, a season-long loan in 2022, before spending 2 ½ seasons at Southend Utd.
The defence contains their captain Josh Raynes, who has now over 300 appearances for City, mainly in the right-back role. Bath-born, he started his career at City, before going on to play for Odd Down and Larkhall Athletic. After two seasons at Plain Ham he joined Frome Town in July 2017, but then earned a return to City, where he has remained until now. Ollie Tomlinson, joined City in November 2024 on loan from Torquay United, before making the move permanent in January 2025. He began his career with Plymouth Argyle, signing a professional contract in June 2020, having loan spells with Barnstaple Town & Truro City before being released by the Pilgrims at the end of the 2021/22 season. He then signed for Torquay United in July 2022, with loan spells at Taunton Town & Chippenham Town before becoming a regular starter for the side. Jack Batten will control one of the centre-back roles and is the longest serving player for the Romans, after a brief spell with Bristol City, rejoining in 2020. Experienced defender/midfielder Enzio Boldewijn joined City in May 2026 following his release by Wealdstone. He began his career in his native Netherlands with SC Voorland, Utrecht, Den Bosch and Almere City. In 2016 he moved to England to join Crawley Town where he would spent two seasons. An undisclosed six-figure fee took him to Notts County in July 2018. Successful spells with Sutton United, Eastleigh and Wealdstone followed, helping the latter to the 2026 FA Trophy Final, but missed the game at Wembley due to injury. Kieran Parselle is another central defender who joined City in June 2022 from Chippenham Town, and has now made over 200 appearances for the Romans. A product of Newport County youth academy, then professional contract he made his debut in August 2015. He spent time at Salisbury & Gloucester City before joining Chippenham Town. In goal will be Bath-born Harvey Wiles-Richards who returned to Twerton Park in June 2024 following his release by Bristol City. He began his career with City’s under-18 side, making his debut for the first team in an FA Trophy tie at Horsham in November 2018 as a 16-year old, as well as their U23 side. He also had loan spells with Gloucester City, Hereford United and, last season, Weymouth.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Basingstoke return to Winklebury following their successful beating of Poole Town in Dorset, with striker Miles Obodo’s finishing the difference in a tough battle.
With the win last weekend, we moved upto fourteenth in the league, with our record at Pld 3 Won 1 Drawn 0 Lost 2, GF 4, GA 6 and 3pts. Our strikeforce will once more be led by Miles Obodo, with many fans hoping that his month-long loan deal can be extended by Farnham Town. Up front with him was Jeremiah Okine-Peters and Jedidiah Brown. Brown, was replaced at halftime, so it is hoped that he has not picked up an injury, that prevents him from starting tomorrow afternoon. Christos Papkonstantinou, replaced Jed Brown, and will be pushing for a start soon. Finn Evans was missing from last weekend’s squad, but I’ve been reliable informed he will be part of the squad tomorrow. Cheick Sylla, is likely still some time away from the matchday squad. Romanian Andrei Chiriac must be close to inclusion in the squad as well.
With Billy Upton absent, Louis McGrory stepped into the captains role last week, and led a strong battling performance against a good Poole Town midfield. He was ably supported by Tom Blake and two wing-backs in a defensive back five. James Henry was a second-half substitute, but may well return to the starting line-up tomorrow. D’Andre Brown’s experiment at right-back, may now be over, and he’s a strong consideration for a role in the midfield tomorrow. Alex Kokozska & Joe Lewis-Evans were both unused substitutes last weekend.
No clear update on when John Adebiyi & Amardeep Singh, although back in training, will be fit and available, and the same can be said of Lloyd Snell.
Last weekend with our captain Billy Upton absent, it appeared we started with a defensive back five, with incoming Alex Solomon, joining debut-boy Sulayman Ceesay & Bernie Tanner in the middle whilst Casey Bocarro patrolled the right, and Joe O’Loughlin on the left. This back five kept Poole Town’s potent attack quiet for most of the game, restricting them to long range shots for most of the game. Billy will be back tomorrow and will wear the captains armband once more, so against a tough Bath side, it will be interesting to see if we revert back to a usual back four. It appears Scott Armsworth is still working his way back to game fitness, whilst both Jack Ball & Ben Jefford are likely still a month away from a matchday squad. Simon Grant made two big saves, one in each half, and will be our No.1 tomorrow afternoon.
Great to see us get our first win and points of the season, but for us to get our first home win, we will need to match an experienced Bath City side, and take our chances when they arrive. I think we have the squad to do achieve this!
With the weather warm & sunny tomorrow, why not take the trip down to Winklebury tomorrow afternoon, and get behind your Stoke side.
Let’s Go Stoke !
Match Preview by Martin French..
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