Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Basingstoke Town vs Hanwell Town
When: Tuesday 6th January 2026 Kick-off 7.45pm
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Hanwell Town (The Geordies), 2025-26 League Position 20th
Saturday saw a fine start to 2026, in not only finally ending that curse of being unable to beat Bracknell in recent years, but doing it in a style that they could not handle for large periods of the game. Two well-finished goals by Tom Blake and then Rudy Allen earned us that all important victory.
We now host the final team that we have still to play this season, in Hanwell Town. Last season we won on each other’s parks, starting with that memorable 2-1 road victory back in October, when the game was delayed, but then finally got underway with left-back Curtis Angell, donning the goalkeeper gloves for twenty minutes before Simon Grant was collected from the side of the M4 motorway. Both our goals that night were from Liam Ferdinand. The return fixture in late January, was level at halftime (1-1), then there was then a second-half goal-fest, with the visitors holding on to a 4-3 victory.
Our Opponents
The Geordies continue to be managed by Chris Moore who has a wealth of league & non-league football experience, having as a player played for the likes of Uxbridge, Northwood, Dagenham & Redbridge & Brentford. He’s took over sole control in 2022-23 season, after Jt Manager Wayne Carter departed. He previously managed at Egham Town.
Hanwell sit in a relegation place (twentieth), with a worrying record of Pld 23 Won 5 Drawn 5 Lost 11 and 20pts. They do have games in hand over most of the teams above them including Basingstoke, but they have not won in the league since the beginning of November, when they beat Tiverton 2-0. Their game last Saturday at Berkhamsted was postponed due to a frozen pitch. Their away record sits at 2 Wins, 2 Draws and 7 Losses. Forward Alfie Pendlebury is in his second season with the club, having impressed at both Holyport and Cheshunt. He has six goals this season. 32-year-old Mo Bettamer, has five goals so far since returning from time at two Libyan clubs. He has played for numerous clubs non-league clubs, but more recently Chelmsford City, Hayes & Yeading & Concord Rangers. In December they signed striker Naheer Omar Nawaf, who we have crossed paths with, when he was at Marlow. They also have Joe Waight is another striker, who has played for a number of clubs in the past two seasons, including Haringey, Aveley and more recently US university side Seton Hall Pirates.
In midfield, winger Kameron English, is back for another season, after joining from Bracknell Town, and Marlow prior to that. Harry Hoath, joined at the start of this season, from Marlow, having previously been at Thatcham Town. Callum Woodcock is one of the longest serving players in entering his seventh season at Hanwell. He did spend time on loan at Chalfont St Peter and Uxbridge, but has been a regular in the middle for the past two seasons. Eddie Cooper is a young midfielder, who joined from Aldershot U21’s, where he has switched on loan deal between them and Sandhurst Town.
In defence, it starts with central defender Dwayne Duncan, who is in his eighth season with the club, and is known for his threat from corners. Full-back Dan Carr, apart from a brief spell with Bracknell Town & Met Police, he has spent the best part of six seasons with the club, and has added six goals this season. The other centre-half is Harry Seabrook, who joined from Harrow Borough in the summer of 2024. He previously played for Leighton Town & Uxbridge. Basingstoke-born Roberto Nditi, joined the Geordies in December 2024, and can either playing defence or midfield. He started in Reading youth sides and has played north of the border, but more recently Thatcham Town. Right-back Joe Wilson is in his second season, having previously played for Hayes & Yeading and Staines Town. In goal will be Sam Beasant, who now captains the team and is the son of former Wimbledon keeper Dave Beasant. He has played for Beaconsfield, and numerous league and Non-League clubs including Maidenhead Utd, Cambridge Utd & Chelmsford City.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Three wins in a row, puts a new light on the season, following the strong all-round performance 48 hours ago, when we beat Bracknell Town. Despite all our first-half pressure and Tom Blake’s first goal for the club, Bracknell were given a lifeline back into the game, and we disappointingly went into the break even. However, it was Stoke who came out firing on all cylinders, and the pressure finally counted, as a neat move saw the departing Rudy Allen finish neatly from inside the penalty area. Despite further chances, we were rarely under any real pressure, and we saw out the win, and three more points.
With last Saturday’s win we moved up into eleventh place, with our record at Pld 23 Won 9 Drawn 3 Lost 11 and 30pts. Our home now record sits at 6 wins, 1 draw & 5 losses. The strikeforce did not add to its goal-scoring stats, but Robbie Gallagher & George Reid were at the heart of most of our attacks throughout the game. Alongwith Joe Barough, and an attacking Tom Blake we put pressure on the Bracknell for long periods of the game. We also saw the welcome return of Ore Bello, in the second-half, and he and Blake combined well as they game wore on. Conor Whiteley, was a late substitute, and may well be one of the subs once again. Cheick Sylla, who looked fairly fit in warm-ups, is apparently a week or two away still, but don’t be surprised if he’s not part of tomorrow nights squad. Rumours have also started circulating that Dan Rowe, may be leaving the club, but I’ve seen no confirmation of this.
The midfield behind the now departed Rudy Allen, looked in control for most of the game Tom Blake and D’Andre Brown, won more than their fair share of challenges, and pushed forward to support the strikers at every opportunity. It will be interesting to see who will fill Rudy’s role, but assume Josh Green will be the first option here. Both he & Ben Cook were second-half substitutes. James Dickson still appears to be a game away or so from returning, whilst loanee Connor Harris was a sub for Farnborough last Saturday. Connor Barratt was not in the matchday squad so unclear what his situation is for tomorrow.
The defence apart from that one slip when Bracknell scored, looked strong and centre-half, Scott Armsworth made a number of key and timely interceptions throughout the game. The same goes for James Clark at right-back. Joe O’Loughlin continues to do the work of two players, as he’s an attacking winger one-minute, then defensive cover at left-back. It is rare to say that our captain and centre-half, was probably overshadowed by his three teammates in defence. Elliott Legg was an unused sub Saturday.
Simon Grant will be the keeper between the sticks tomorrow night.
In just over 24 hours, Stoke will look to extend their winning streak to four games, and are playing a Hanwell side not in the best of form. However note that Hanwell have beaten us the last two times at Winklebury, so it would be good to put an end to that streak. Hanwell also have found it hard to find the net this season, so let’s hope that continues tomorrow night.
It is expected to be freezing cold tomorrow, so why not wrap-up extra warm, and come down to Winklebury, and get behind your Basingstoke Town side to victory.
Let’s Go Stoke !
Match Preview by Martin French..
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