Match Preview: Basingstoke Town vs Plymouth Parkway – Saturday 23rd August 2025

Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Basingstoke Town vs Plymouth Parkway
When: Saturday 23rd August 2025 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Plymouth Parkway (Parkway), 2024-25 League Finished 13th

Well after two reasonably successful away trips on the road at Evesham and then Taunton, we remain unbeaten as we host Plymouth Parkway with the fans expectancy of three points tomorrow afternoon.
Last season we swapped victories on each other’s park, as we opened the season winning 3-1 in Devon, but then in the midst of a poor home run, we lost by a solitary late goal. NB. Our three goalscorers back in the August fixture are no longer with us.

Our Opponents
The Parkway are managed by Chris McPhee who is in his second season in the role. A former football player who spent time at a number of clubs, then went become an assistant manager lastly at Exeter City U18’s, before taking on the role with Parkway.

Plymouth last season had a topsy turvy second-half to the season, winning one week, followed by a loss the following week, and despite losing their last three games of the season, they remained a comfortable four points above the relegation places in 13th.
This season has not started well, although they did win 2-1, with a very late goal last Saturday at home to Gloucester. They started the season with a 6-3 thumping by Walton & Hersham, followed by a 2-0 home loss to Weymouth. After three games it leaves them in the last relegation place (19th). Looking at their squad, there are few squad members who are quoted as actual strikers, and this area took a hit after Rocky Neale, suffered a hamstring injury last Saturday and will miss tomorrow’s game. This leaves very little known attackers, one being 18 year-old Aidan Warne as one of few youngsters who may well see gametime tomorrow.

Their squad is packed with a large number of midfielders and some of these will be pushed into attacking roles tomorrow. Starting with 35-year-old Ryan Brett, who began his career climbing the ranks at Plymouth Argyle, before joining many clubs within the South-West, including Salisbury, Truro, Taunton and now, Parkway. The Garside brothers, Rio & Carlo, are back for another season at Bolitho Park, Rio the older brother has been at the Parkway for the last eight years. Carlo came through the ranks at Plymouth Argyle becoming U18’s captain, before being released at 17 and joining Parkway briefly. He then joined Larkhall and Tiverton, before returning back home to the yellows. Mikey Williams is in his ninth season with the club, joining from Tiverton Town. Again another Plymouth Argyle academy player, he also spent four years on a US scholarship with West Texas A&M. Another mainstay in the middle is Callum Hall, began his career at Plymouth Argyle, progressing through the youth system and earning both an apprenticeship and a one-year professional contract. Following a short spell at Torquay United, he joined Tiverton Town, where he spent three seasons before a stint at Willand and eventually signing for Parkway. Another midfielder is Will Sullivan, who at just 18, has moved into men’s football with Millbrook, then played for Helston and Mousehole last season, before joining the Parkway. Another midfielder is Cruis Nyadzayo, who has recently played for Sittingbourne and then Punjab Utd, before joining earlier this month.

Club Captain Shane White, has been sidelined due to injury and will be missing from tomorrow’s game, leaving defenders such as British Virgin Island international Taylor Scarff, in his second season to lead the defence. Jensen Ireland, is a defender who came through the ranks at Exeter City, joining the academy at the age of seven and signing his first professional contract at 18, a proud milestone in his football journey. Another Exeter City’s academy player is left-back Max Edgecombe.
With Alex Rutter sidelined for most of the season with an achilles injury, they have signed on loan AFC Bournemouth keeper Mack Allan for the season. Allan, of course played four times for Stoke last season, when Simon Grant was out.

Our Basingstoke Town Side
Well three games in, we sit as one of five remaining unbeaten teams in the league, and three solid performances that could have brought us all nine points. Taking a point at Taunton, despite the lateness of the equaliser, was the first of many markers to meet this season. The coolness of James Clark in front of goal, has been missing with both main centre-forwards, Liam Ferdinand (returning from injury), & Charlie Austin regaining full match fitness. In fact it was Austin’s neat flick from D’Andre Brown’s run and pass, that set-up Clark. Unless Clark is given a starting role up top, then things are unlikely to change with Bradley Wilson, George Reid, returning from ‘Best Man Duties’, and Robbie Gallagher as the attacking front. Austin, will surely see gametime, likely in the second-half. Joel Rollinson, is also a strong candidate to see significant gametime as well.

Three strong performances by D’Andre Brown, gives our manager some questions on who to start, with James Dickson back fit, and young Josh Green settling well into his holding midfield role. Ben Cook should be available after his knock at Evesham, and Connor Barratt could be back from his injury too. With Dre, having started each game, then there is no reason, he should not be named in the starting eleven tomorrow afternoon.

The defence should see the return of Billy Upton tomorrow following the birth of his baby boy Reggie, and will once again don the captains armband as well. He will be partnered by Jack Ball, who has been excellent in our opening games so far. Again unless Dan decides to change things up, then Scott Armsworth may unfortunately miss out, and be a solid option off the bench. The defensive backs are also likely to remain unchanged, with Markus Johnson-Schuster on the right and Joe O’Loughlin on the left. Elliott Legg is a worthy replacement here, and I’m unaware of Ben Jefford’s fitness status. In goal will be once more be the effervescent and reliable Simon Grant.

As stated above, it is games like tomorrow, where we are expected to pick up all three points, if we are to look to push towards a playoff season. Plymouth will have major strength in midfield, using these players to attack, which may mean we set-up differently to counteract it.

It would be good to get off to an early start and get some early goals, and a goal or two from Bradley Wilson is about due now.

Match Preview by Martin French..