Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Basingstoke Town vs Chertsey Town
When: Tuesday 14th October 2025 Kick-off 7.45pm
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Chertsey Town (The Curlews), 2024-25 League Finish 16th
We now host a Chertsey side, following our loss at Uxbridge last Saturday.
Last season Chertsey comfortably did the double over us with a 3-0 win in November in Surrey, followed by a 1-3 loss in March at Winklebury. Our goal-scorer on that day was James Clark from the penalty spot.
Our Opponents
The Blues finally made a change in Managership, as Josh Gallagher replaced long-serving Mark Harper back in May. However, Gallagher did not last long, as after a string of poor results, he was replaced by Toby Little last week. Little, was a previous player who was also a coach before taking on the new role.
Chertsey Town sit in eleventh place following a strong 2-0 win at Taunton Town, with their record of Pld 10 Won 4 Drawn 2 Lost 4 and 12pts. Chertsey’s away record is surprisingly good and better than their home record, as on the road they have Won 3, Drawn 1 Lost 1. Last season’s leading goal-scorer striker Jack Mazzone is one of three players with four goals this season. Mazzone, a Chertsey youth player, he has also played for Woking, Met Police, South Park, as well as Godalming Town before returning in 2024. Another striker with four league goals is Karl Oliyide (30), who has joined on loan from Chesham United. Started off in the Reading U18 side. Has also appeared for a number of sides including Northwood and Hendon. Oliver McCoy is the other player with four goals, and is an attacker, where he had a brief spell at Ascot United. Was also at Chesham United. He started off with Birmingham City with loans spells at Yeovil Town, Wealdstone and Beaconsfield. Dan Hector, was a summer signing from Raynes Park Vale. Plays in wide attacking positions. Previously played at Merstham, Sevenoaks, Kingstonian and Leatherhead. Was also two years with Carshalton Athletic
The midfield contains Garry Abisogun, who signed for The Curfews in September 2020 as a wide attacker and stayed for two seasons, before moving to Bracknell Town, then Slough Town and Chesham United, before re-joining this term. Ashley Lodge (35) originally with Staines Town, is back for his third spell with the club, having spent two years and 99 appearances at Bracknell Town, and then Chesham United last season, before returning to Alwyns Lane. Daniel Berry (22) A right sided midfield player who signed in the summer from Raynes Park Vale. Previously was with Chipstead where he made 35 appearances in season 2023/24. Jermaine Green, is a right-sided player who is equally comfortable in midfield or defence. Joined The Curfews in the 2025 close season after having spent several successful seasons at Raynes Park Vale. Midfielder Luke Robertson signed for Hampton & Richmond Borough, ahead of the 2025/26 season, after two season as captain with the Curlews, but appears to have returned on loan in recent weeks. Another ex-Met Police player is Louis Birch, who was there for five seasons as well as Enfield Town.
The defence contains right-back Isaac Olorunfemi back for another season, after joining from Bracknell Town, having had spells at clubs such as Hanwell Town, Marlow & Egham Town. Eion Casey (34) Enjoyed seven seasons at Chesham United, making 197 appearances with 26 goals for the Generals in that time. Had a loan spell at Alwyns Lane last season which was cut short by injury. Signed as an attacker Aaron William-Fernandes (31), is currently set-up in the back four, began at Walsall in 2011 making six appearances. Has had short loans at Step 1 or 2 clubs before spells at teams like Worcester City, Nuneaton, Harrogate Town, & AFC Telford. He then spent three seasons at Newtown in the Cymru Premier League, before turning down a move to Spain, joining the Curfews. Alex Fisher likely to play on the left, was at QPR’s academy for over six years, when very young. Played at Metropolitan Police for the 22/23 season, joining the Curfews in the 2023 close season. In goal it is likely to be Luke Wynne-Roberts, who was an ever-present between the sticks for Redhill last season, keeping 22 clean sheets along the way. Signed for the Curfews in the past close season. Was formally with AFC Wimbledon.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Our loss at Uxbridge, although once again by the odd goal, has us on the edge of the relegation zone, with our goal-difference superior to four other teams who also sit on nine points. We now face a Chertsey side who did what we couldn’t do and that was winning at Taunton, and prior to that beating Havant & Waterlooville. Our goal-scorer on Saturday was once more from a defensive player, as Scott Armsworth powered home a header from James Dickson’s free-kick.
With the new signings (Cheick Lysalla & Remy Bennison), having reasonable debuts, I would assume they will be in the starting line-up tomorrow night. With this and with the possible inclusion of Robbie Gallagher, who missed Saturday’s game, this leaves some decisions on who else could start. Liam Ferdinand & Bradley Wilson started Saturday, and George Reid played his first minutes since the Gosport Borough FA Cup loss, then a number of options are left with Manager Dan Brownlie to make.
The midfield, started with James Dickson and Josh Green, as the two real midfield players, as we pushed forward with two attacking wingers and two forwards. Will this change as we host a strong Chertsey side? We did make changes in the second-half with Ben Cook, Connor Barratt and D’Andre Brown all making appearances in trying to chase an equaliser.
The defence again, as our Manager pointed out, did not help themselves or Simon Grant in goal, as two goals were enough to drop all three points. Scott Armsworth in for Jack Ball got our goal, and our defence have now added three goals this season. Billy Upton will once again lead the team from his centre-back role, and will be accompanied by either Armsworth or Ball, in the middle. Unless something changes, then Markus Johnson-Schuster will be on the right, and Joe O’Loughlin will control the left. Simon Grant, was at his best and kept us in the game with a number of key saves throughout the game.
Chertsey Town are likely to keep their four, five and one up top formation from Saturday’s game at Taunton, so how we set-up to combat this will be interesting, whilst keeping an eye on Chertsey’s attacking threat.
The players will need your support tomorrow night, and as always.
Let’s Go Stoke !
Match Preview by Martin French..
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