Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Basingstoke Town vs Gloucester City
When: Saturday 8th February 2025 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Gloucester City (The Tigers), Avg 2024-25 Home Att 985
We head home to play Gloucester following our battling draw at league leaders Merthyr Town on Tuesday evening.
Back at the beginning of November, we travelled to Gloucester, as very much the underdogs, but we took an early lead after a solo run and finish by Nnamdi Nwachuku. However City struck back minutes later, and we went into the break level. Both teams had half-chances in the second-half, and we were able to leave with the point, despite some very one-sided refereeing decisions.
Our Opponents
The Tigers are managed by Mike Cook, who is in his second spell at the club following his spell in 2019, in trying to save the club from relegation. He rejoined the Tigers in September 2023 after time at Chippenham Town and Swindon Town women.
The Tigers have slipped two places since we played them back in November, and now sit in third place behind league leaders Merthyr Town, and second-placed AFC Totton. Their record now sits at Pld 28 Won 14 Drawn 11 Lost 3 and 53pts. The Tigers are on an eight-game unbeaten run, following last weekend’s goalless draw against AFC Totton. Their away record however, is not that impressive with four wins, eight draws and two losses. Their leading goalscorer is attacking midfielder Joe Hanks, who now has eighteen league goals so far this season and has been at the club since 2015. Striker Brandon Smalley now has eight league goals, and joined in 2023 from Leeds Utd academy. Smalley added ten goals last season. Ed Williams has added three goals and another striker similar to Hanks who played at Cheltenham Town and also spent time at Kidderminster Harriers & EFL side Doncaster Rovers. They added ex- Stafford Rangers striker Stanley Anaebonam to the squad who has one goal. The 25-year-old Norwegian born player, has a wealth of experience, having played at clubs such as Redditch United, Shelbourne, Truro City, Hednesford Town, Hereford, Bromsgrove Sporting before Stafford Rangers.
Apart from Hanks in midfield, Daryle Grubb who spent most of his time at Weston-Super-Mare where he scored 123 goals whilst there, but he has been missing from the match-day squad recently. ‘Dubliner’ Kevin Dawson is also the captain of the team, and played for Shelbourne, and Yeovil Town. Harry Emmett is a left-sided midfielder who started at Chippenham Town, as well as time at Longlevens & Cinderford Town. They also have Jake Evans, who is on loan from Chippenham Town. Harry Pinchard is regarded as a creative midfielder who joined from Hereford Town.
The defence contains 6ft 5 centre-back Brendon Richards-Everton, who scored City’s goal back in November and now has four for the season. He has a wealth of experience in both the SPL & EFL, having played for Dunfermline, Accrington Stanley, Bradford City and others and joined the Tigers in the 2023-24 season. On the right will likely be Daniel Leadbetter, who spent most of his career at Bristol Rovers, before joining in 2021. After a short-break he is back for 2024. Tyrone Duffus, is a defender who was from Everton academy, and made professional appearances for Oldham & Barnet, before joining via Swindon Supermarine. Dan Ball is a left-sided defender, who joined from Taunton in 2024, having played over 300 times for Bath City. In goal will more than likely be Jared Thompson, who started at Swindon Town, but then spent seven years at Chelsea’s academy, where he won three FA Youth Cups & two UEFA Youth Cups. He left in 2019 for Weymouth and joined City in 2024. Note the back-up is Conor Thompson, the brother of Jared.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Despite that battling team performance in the Welsh mountains of Merthyr, we conceded another late goal, which ultimately in the end cost us two points. Despite this worthy point, with Hungerford Town winning again, we slipped down one place to twelfth with our record now at Pld 29 Won 11 Drawn 8 Lost 10 and 35pts. The new attack-force saw Jayden Brissett score his first of hopefully many goals for the club, as he combined well with Liam Ferdinand to put us ahead at Merthyr. Robbie Gallagher once again put in his 100% all-round play, so I would expect all three to be in the starting line-up tomorrow afternoon. George Reid’s continued game-time increased again on Tuesday, and will likely be given more playing time, possibly an hours start if they feel he’s ready. Pele Koulsseoue, was an unused sub on Tuesday, so could also be a consideration for more gametime. Charlie Barlow could well be an attacking option as well.
Although it took some time on Tuesday, but with the support of a defensive back-five, Rudy Allen & Sam Deadfield, appeared to take control of the midfield for the last twenty minutes of the first-half, and although Merthyr pushed forward, they held their own against Merthyr’s strong midfield. It is assumed these two will be the starting two, potentially with Ben Cook, if we change our formation from Tuesday. Aleks Kokoszka who played for the academy midweek, could well be an option off the bench, as well as Flynn Bolton.
The five-man defence on Tuesday night, held firm and was frustrating a Merthyr side with hard work and effort. Yes the league leaders finally found a way through and hit the post both in added-time, but for ninety minutes we blocked and tackled our way throughout the game. Notably a good Lewis Colwell debut as well as a number of Scott Armsworth key tackles were noticed by the travelling Stoke fans, and it will give Manager Dan Brownlie, some decisions on how we set-up tomorrow. If Colwell retains his left-back role, and Marcus Johnson-Schuster starts on the right, then he could give Jack Ball a rest, if he wished to go with Armsworth alongside Billy Upton. If Colwell does start, then James Clark could return to a midfield role as an option.
Simon Grant, who was not a clear favourite of the Merthyr crowd, made some key saves throughout the game, but was unfortunately beaten by another long range effort, but he will be wearing the goalkeeper jersey once more tomorrow.
Despite two hardworking team performances, and having picked up just one point in games at Taunton and Merthyr, we now host another tough team in Gloucester City. Yes the Tigers are not the best on the road, but with the weather not to be best, a strong team performance where we take our chances will be needed if we are to gain some points, and head off any talk of us slipping into a relegation battle.
Match Preview by Martin French..
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