Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Basingstoke Town vs Didcot Town
When: Saturday 23rd December 2023 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Winklebury Sports Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Didcot Town (The Railwayman), Avg 2023-24 Home Att 303
Last Saturday’s defeat at lowly Harrow Borough, confirmed that we need to turn it around soon as possible, and picking up three points tomorrow afternoon, is vital as we head into a tough Christmas & New Year schedule of games.
Tomorrow’s game will be the reverse fixture from our late three-two victory at the Loop Meadow Stadium, as Stoke on that day started well and deservedly led two-nil after a missed penalty, Bradley Wilson waltzed around their keeper to give us the lead, which was followed by a solo run and finish by George Reid. However, a soft goal just before the break brought Didcot back into the game. Didcot came looking for an equaliser, which they achieved midway in the second-half, but it was Stoke though with a late finish by George Reid, set-up by James Clark, that earned us the points.
Our Opponents
The Railwayman are managed by Jamie Hepey, who made 853 appearances as a player, and is known as ‘Mr Didcot’. He had a brief coaching spell at Banbury Utd, before taking over the Railwaymen in the 2019-20 season.
Despite picking up a creditable point in a goal-less home draw against Tiverton Town, Didcot sit rooted at the bottom of the table, nine points below Swindon Supermarine. Their record sits at Pld 19 Won 1 Drawn 5 Lost 13, with just 8pts. Their goal difference is minus thirty, having just scored just nineteen times this season. Their away record sits at 3 draws and 6 losses from nine games. With that lack of goals, Didcot’s leading scorer is central midfielder Jenson Wright, who has five league goals. Wright, is regarded as a cultured midfielder, who joined in October 2022, via North Leigh, having progressed through the MK Dons academy and was also at Banbury Utd. Striker Adam Smith who played for clubs such as Thame Utd following a period at Oxford Utd, has two league goals.
Their midfield apart from Jenson Wright, has Ben Putland, who has added three goals. Putland, joined from Oxford University this season, is a holding midfielder, who can also play at the back. Attacking midfielder Patrick Osbourne, is in his second season with the club, after joining from Oxford City, and has two league goals on the season. James Glover (27), joined from nearby Kidlington this season, having spent most of his career at Wantage Town.
Defensively, having conceded forty-nine goals, they made some changes, one being the signing of 31 year-old centre-back Luke Carnell from Hungerford Town. Full-back Adam Learoyd is in his second spell with the club, after spending to two seasons at North Leigh. Sam Barder, who re-joined the club from Thatcham Town, is equally happy at full-back or in a midfield role. In goal will be Leigh Bedwell, who has been at the club since 2015 after joining from Banbury Utd.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Following last week’s loss at lowly Harrow Borough, we have now picked up just two points in our last six games and although still thirteenth in the league, those teams below are slowly pulling closer to us and many with a number of games in hand of us. With the added understanding that a number of key players, will be out for some time, Manager Dan Brownlie who had been looking to strengthen the squad, has made some key additions this week, signing three players which will bolster the squad at this
Our league record is now Pld 23 Won 7 Drawn 5 Lost 11 GF 43 GA 53 with 26pts. Despite taking that early lead through Liam Ferdinand’s neat header, we failed to take the few chances that came along and Ferdinand’s second was nothing more than a consolation goal. This brace now gives him seven goals on the season. Alongside him could be Stefan Brown, whilst Bradley Wilson will likely be on the left. It is unclear if leading goal-scorer Dan Rowe, will be fit to return this Saturday, but he could earn a role on the bench. George Reid, still returning to full fitness will operate on the opposite side to Wilson.
The midfield looks to be strengthened by dual-registration signing Mal Nicholls from Chippenham Town. Mal 20 years-old is likely to start in the centre and is known for his passing and his ball skills and potentially could be set alongside another signing on a month-long loan in Anthony Cheshire from Weymouth. Cheshire who previously made his name whilst at Bracknell Town, can play either at the back, but is equally strong in a midfield role. This gives D’Andre Brown the support he needs, whilst Simon Dunn & Michael Atkinson recover from potential long-term injuries. James Clark who was slotted into a midfield role, depending on how we set-up may miss out and be an option of the bench.
The defence admittedly with a number of injuries has not been the huge strength it was last season, having now conceded more goals than any other team in the league (53), and will need to be at it’s best in the coming string of games. The third of Dan Brownlie’s signings is likely to slot in here, and we welcome left-footed Massimo Giamattei to the defence. Giamattei, is another ex-Bracknell player, who has also played for Binfield. If Giamattei does start in the left-back role, a battle for the right-back role between Nathan Smart, Markus Johnson-Schuster and Kai Hobbs looks likely. This is all assuming that our centre-back pairing remains as Scott Armsworth who wore the captain’s armband last week and Billy Upton. Those not in the starting eleven will likely be options off the bench.
The keeper’s role is likely to be Mark Scott’s who took over for the second-half , after Paul Strudley picked up an injury last Saturday.
Tomorrow afternoon is the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways, but we need to improve on all-round play, and cut out needless errors that have cost us in recent weeks.
A good performance and three points will give our supporters a perfect christmas present and will also give the players the positivity as we face AFC Totton & Salisbury in the coming week.
If you’ve done all Christmas shopping, then why not make your way down to Winklebury tomorrow afternoon, and get behind your Basingstoke Town side.
Merry Christmas to you all.
Match Preview by Martin French..
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