Match Preview: Basingstoke Town vs Dorchester Town – Saturday 17th August 2024

Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Basingstoke Town vs Dorchester Town
When: Saturday 17th August 2024 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Dorchester Town (Magpies), Avg 2024-25 Home Att 620 (1 game)
Well as we sit here in second-place, twenty-four hours before we host Dorchester Town, the talk around the fanbase is do we have the best squad of players since our time in the National League South.
We now host Dorchester Town tomorrow afternoon, where we split the results last season. Initially in November we were outplayed and lost four-one. Then in our last home game of the season in April, we secured our safety with a hard-fought three-one victory, which included the League’s goals of the season, as Paul Hodges scored that seventy yard clearance/come shot. Our other goalscorers on the day were Liam Ferdinand & Bradley Wilson.

Our Opponents
The Magpies (Dorchester’s version that is), are managed by Tom Killick who is starting his second season at the club, following twenty-year’s of managing at Poole Town. He will be assisted by Glenn Howes, and both Tom & Glenn played for the Stoke in the late 90’s. Both had worked together previously at Salisbury & Poole Town, before arriving at Dorchester.

Last season, Dorchester finished in ninth place with an overall record of Pld 42 Won 17 Drawn 9 Lost 16 GF 66 GA 77 and 60pts. Their start this season, is two (1-1) draws at home to Havant & Waterlooville & away to Tiverton Town.
Their leading strikers Shaquille Gwengwe & Olaf Koszela have returned to the Avenue Stadium for this season. Gwengwe, arrived from AFC Totton in June 2022 but has missed the opening games through injury, whilst Olaf Koszela initially joined the club in January 2022 via a loan deal from Torquay, but signed a one-year contract at the start of the 2023 and now 2024 seasons. They also signed the experienced Wayne Robinson who has won back-to-back promotions with Sholing then Salisbury. They have also signed ex-Poole Town forward Luke Roberts, who made over 170 appearances for the Dolphins over a five-year period. Another striker joining the Magpies is Luke Pardoe, and like many others, he has played for Poole Town & AFC Bournemouth.

The midfield contains the returning captain Jordan Ngalo, whose career includes stops at Weymouth, AFC Totton & Aldershot Town. Another likely starter is Corby Moore, who joined towards the end of last season, after stints at clubs such as Bishop Stortford, Poole Town and Chelmsford. Wes Fogden returns to the club after a 15-year absence, where he spent time in League 1 & League 2 with AFC Bournemouth, Portsmouth & Yeovil, as well as playing for Havant & Waterlooville & Dorking Wanderers.

The mainstays from last season Jack Dickson & Ollie Haste will return to defensive roles once again. William Spetch, another ex-Poole Town player who is known for his midfield play, will once again play at the back. At centre-back will be ex-Eastleigh defender Tom Bragg, who won promotion with Salisbury. Ieuan Turner is another returnee in defence, and came through from their U23 side. Another former Poole Town player is left-back Harry Hutchinson, who was at the Dolphins the last couple of seasons.
Noah Crisp is likely to be the starting keeper, after signing for the club last week, after a successful pre-season. The former AFC Bournemouth academy keeper, has played for Sholing and is on dual-registration with Wessex Premier League side Bournemouth. They also have Gerard Benfield, who has spent time with Weymouth, Salisbury & Wimborne.

Our Basingstoke Town Side
Two games, two wins, we can’t ask for much more than that, but when you add that our new signings have been a major part of the victories, then that’s the icing on the cake. The come from behind win at Plymouth, was topped by a dominating performance at home to Swindon Supermarine on Tuesday night.

We currently sit in second-place on goal difference, one of four teams with maximum points so far. Tuesday’s victory, a clean-sheet against Swindon Supermarine, saw Paul Hodges hit a stunning shot to open the scoring, followed by a goal in each half by striking sensation Dan Warre. The forward line tomorrow afternoon, will probably see Warre, paired with either Liam Ferdinand, who may be ready to go from the start, or a possible first participation for Nnamdi Nwachuku this season. Robbie Gallagher has started both games and may well be in the starting line-up once again. Jonny Efedje is another striker that has impressed in his two substitutions appearances, and could be given a starting role. George Reid who has impressed in his two sub appearances could also get a start as well.

With a number of options like the forward line, the midfield could see the return of captain Simon Dunn, who was rested on Tuesday, and is there any reason why Paul Hodges won’t be in that starting line-up, whilst he’s still this side of the hemisphere. Luis Le Paih who made his first appearance as a substitute Tuesday, could also be given a bigger role tomorrow. Flynn Bolton who has not been part of either games, could be given a chance in some format, which could mean Max Smith or Alfie Bridgman could be rested or an option off the bench. The same can be said of Ben Cook as well.

The defence was superb on Tuesday evening and was pivotal in our three-goal win. Despite Swindon at times pushing forward, we blocked everything that they threw at us, and apart from that finger-tipped save by Simon Grant in goal, we looked secure. With this info, this could be the one area which remains fairly the same, if so the line-up will be, Markus Johnson-Schuster on the right, James Clark & Billy Upton in the middle and Curtis Angell on the left. Those waiting to get a chance are centre-back Scott Armsworth, left back Massimo Giamattei and young Aleks Kokoska who can play either defensive back role. There’s all Jack Ball to join the squad at some point soon.
In goal will be Simon Grant, who once again proved what a great signing he was last year, with a critical save in the first half, but more so his reliability and organization at the back.

With an abundance of talented players in all areas of the pitch, our management team will have scouted the Dorchester side, and will have its plans set in place, on who will start and who will be the five options off the bench.

Tomorrow afternoon, Dorchester will bring the biggest challenge we have faced so far this season, but our team spirit and options across the park, could make this a really entertaining game.

As always your support can help make all the difference.

Match Preview by Martin French..