Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Basingstoke Town vs Evesham United
When: Saturday 20th December 2025 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Evesham United (The Robins), 2025-26 League Position 11th
Well after what seems a lifetime, but actually just three weeks, Basingstoke will get to play its first game of December, as we host Evesham Utd tomorrow afternoon. Last time out for the Stoke was our home loss to the league leaders Walton & Hersham 3-0 at Winklebury.
We played Evesham in the reverse fixture back in August and despite a good performance which saw us take a first-half lead, Evesham found an equaliser midway through the second-half and we had to settle for a point.
Our Opponents
The Robins (Evesham’s version) are managed by Mike Ford, who as a player played for Cardiff City and Oxford United, where he played almost 500 times, before retiring through injury. His management career includes two caretaker roles at Oxford Utd, before managing Oxford City for five years, then spending five years at Banbury Utd, gaining them promotion in that time. He then spent last season at St Ives Town, before joining the Robins.
The Robins following a 3-0 win at home to Taunton Town, now sit four places above us in eleventh place, with an overall record of Pld 22 Won 7 Drawn 6 Lost 9 and 27pts. Their away record sits at an average 2 wins 3 draw & 6 losses. Those two wins came earlier in the season at Weymouth & Bracknell, while last time out on the road, they lost 1-0 at Gosport Borough. Their forward line starts with last season’s top goal-scorer Levi Steele, and he has continued to find the net this season, with twelve goals so far this season. Steele, was previously at Easington Sports, North Leigh and Pershore Town before returning to the Robins last season. Forward Andre Wright, has found the net nine times so far, and is in his second season with the club, having spent time at Stratford Town & Mickleover previously. Striker Ethan Dunbar has four goals so far, joining from Bishops Cleeve, where he scored 39 goals in two seasons, and previously played for other locals clubs like Longlevens AFC and Slimbridge.
Amer Awadh continues to lead the team from his attacking midfield role, and has added two goals this season. He came through the youth system at Oxford City, and has played at Banbury Utd, Nuneaton Borough and North Leigh, before joining Evesham. Aaron Heap represented Northern Ireland at youth international level. He began his career with Kidlington, signing on a scholarship for Oxford United in April 2016. He has had two spells at North Leigh as well as time at Banbury United in August 2020, before joining the Robins this season. Josh Barlow has added two goals this season, and played three times for Shrewsbury Town’s EFL Trophy side. He also spent time at Banbury Utd before coming to Cheltenham Road. Brandon Liggett, who we played against at Gloucester, started with Cheltenham U18’s, and also had a short loan spell at Salisbury.
In defence they have Welsh-defender Ioan Richards, who was on a season-long loan at Swindon Supermarine from Gloucester City, before joining the Robins this season. 18 year-old Cameron Walters has joined Evesham on loan from Cheltenham Town, and is regarded as a defender, who can also play in a midfield role. Jyrel Bojang joins Evesham from Pershore Town having previously played at Studley. They also have Swindon Town defender Owen Foye, on a work experience loan. Owen has also spent time at Swindon Supermarine. In goal will be veteran keeper Alex Harris, who has a wealth of experience playing for title winning sides such as Cinderford Town & Hereford, before playing for Merthyr Town. He did spend a season with Penybont of the Welsh National League, before signing for Evesham last season.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
With the postponement of the Tiverton Town game because of weather and Hanwells participation in the FA Trophy, our last fixture was the loss to Walton & Hersham back on the 29th November. However, what has happened in that time, is that two senior players have chosen to part company with the club, as firstly striker Liam Ferdinand joined step 4 club Hanworth Villa, and them defender, Marcus Johnson-Schuster, joined rivals Bracknell Town. As this preview is being issued, it is unclear if the club has added to the squad.
With three consecutive losses, and with other teams around us making up ground on matches played, Basingstoke have now slipped to fifteenth place in the league, and our record now sits at Pld 20 Won 6 Drawn 3 Lost 11 and 21pts. Without a goal in our last three matches, our goal difference is now at a worrying -9. Our home record sits at 4 wins, 1 draw & 5 losses.
With the lack of games, it has hopefully allowed some of our injured players, get close to returning to the match-day squad. The strikeforce tomorrow will now consist of Robbie Gallagher, Josh Dolling (unless his loan has ended), Dan Rowe (who should be back from injury). It was hoped that Cheick Sylla could also make a return, but this is unclear at this point. George Reid & Ore Bello, are both likely to miss out through injury.
The midfield (again unless any additions), will contain Josh Green, D’Andre Brown, Ben Cook, Connor Barratt. It is assumed that Farnborough loanee, Connor Harris will still be at the club. It is unclear if James Dickson, who has been out since the Aldershot cup game, with a hamstring injury, maybe close to returning, and would be a welcome addition for tomorrow. It is assumed that Tom Blake (dislocated shoulder), will still be sidelined.
The defence will have hopefully used the break, to recuperate and get back to full fitness, starting with our captain Billy Upton, who seems constantly to play with some form of knock every game. His partner is likely to be Scott Armsworth, unless Jack Ball is able to return from injury. At left-back will be the reliable Joe O’Loughlin, whilst with Johnson-Schuster now gone, it should mean the role is now Elliott Legg’s. As always James Clark can fit in here if needed, or anywhere else on the pitch. Again awaiting confirmation of Simon Grant’s fitness status, if not has QPR allowed the loan extension of Joel Halliday.
So tomorrow, unless Dan & Aaron, find a signing in the next 24 hours, then we could be forced to add one or two academy players to the squad.
Tomorrow afternoon, we face a team in Evesham, whose record on the road record is not the best, and thus will give us a real chance to get back to winning ways, and will give all Stoke fans a nice boost in our last game before Christmas.
Let’s Go Stoke !
Match Preview by Martin French..
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