Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Basingstoke Town vs Plymouth Parkway
When: Saturday 24th February 2024 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Plymouth Parkway (Parkway), Avg 2023-24 Home Att 403
We return home following two battling away performances, picking up all six points against tough opponents in Walton & Hersham and last Saturday’s win at Poole Town. These two wins remove any current relegation concerns, with just ten games left in Basingstoke’s season.
We played Parkway down at Bolitho Park back in October, going behind to an early soft goal, only for us equalise a minute later, via a neat move between Bradley Wilson & Stefan Brown, who set-up George Reid’s sweeping finish. Despite Stoke being the better of the two teams for the rest of the game, we had to be content leaving Devon with just one point.
Our Opponents
Parkway are managed by Lee Hobbs, who has been in charge since the 2016-17 season, propelling them from the South West Peninsula League to the Southern Premier League South division.
Whilst we have ten games to play, the Parkway continue to struggle to get their games played either at home, or Tuesday’s night postponement at Hanwell Team, means there last six fixtures have all been postponed, which leaves them with eighteen games still to play, and with the season running out fast. They currently sit in eighteenth place with a league record of they currently Pld 23 Won 8 Drawn 7 Lost 8, with 31pts. Their away record stands at 3 Wins, 5 Draws & 4 Losses. Their leading goalscorer is 28 year-old striker Jack Crago, who has found the net nine times in the league. Crago, is in his third year at the club, having spent time at Tiverton Town, and before that Truro City. Another striker is Matthew Wright, who has three league goals, returns to Bolitho Park, having spent time at other clubs in a career over a number of years. Reece Thomson, is another striker who has three goals on the season.
In midfield, they have Callum Hall, regarded as their engine room, who has found the net five times, and came through Plymouth’s youth squad, before stints at Tiverton Town & Willand Rovers. Rio Garside, an exciting young central midfield player, has three league goals, and after spending some loan time from Truro City, was given a free transfer this season to return to Bolitho Park. Tom Purrington, who has one goal on the season, having started his career at Plymouth Argyle, he then spent time at Dorchester Town and Tiverton Town, before returning to the Parkway. Dylan Jones, is a product from Parkway’s academy, and has found the net twice this season. Mikey Williams is a fan favourite and described as the wizard of Bolitho.
The defence includes Callum Rose, who is a steadying influence in the defence, and has assumed the vice-captain role at the club, and another player who started his career at Plymouth Argyle. 27 year-old left-back, Ryan Lane, is in his seventh season at the club and is regarded as the fae of the club. Joe Belsten is likely to start at right-back, having joined from Tiverton Town. Centre-back Toby Down, joined the Parkway last season, after plating for a number of clubs in Hong Kong. In goal will be Adam Parkes, a youth player at Southampton, he has spent some time at other U21 and U23 clubs before signing for Plymouth Argyle, where after a successful loan period at Parkway, he has signed on for the 23-24 season.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Despite major doubts about last week’s game at Poole Town going ahead, the match passed what was two pitch inspections, and after a slow start, we started to impose ourselves on the game, and deservedly took the lead, as Billy Upton outjumped the Plymouth defenders and headed us into the lead. Stoke then had to spend a lot of the second forty-five minutes, defending the end of the pitch, which was cutting up badly, but we battled hard and held out and left Dorset with three big points in our continuing push away from any relegation thought’s.
The win puts us upto eleventh place with our record standing at Pld 32 Won 11 Drawn 7 Lost 14, with 40pts. Assuming we picked up no further injuries at Poole, or in training this week, then our frontline should stay as Liam Ferdinand & Bradley Wilson, whilst Dan Rowe is likely to miss out through injury for the second game. This means Stefan Brown who was a second-half substitution last week, will likely be an option once again, whilst Ashleigh Artwell may soon be ready to return. Rumours that ex-Stoke winger Marcio Neves, may also return to the club, and thus could be an option here as well, especially while winger George Reid is still on the sidelines.
Our midfield already without Simon Dunn last Saturday, then took another a huge hit as Michael Atkinson hobbled off at halftime, and the seriousness of his injury is unknown at this time. If Dunn is able to get return tomorrow, he will be team-up with Luis Le Paih, who once again proved what a prospect he is for the club, with another fine performance across the park last Saturday. Add Paul Hodges, who battled despite taking a heavy knock to the face, should also be available tomorrow, whilst Ben Cook, who clearly wasn’t 100% last weekend battled through ninety minutes, and should also be in contention for a starting role. D’Andre Brown may once again miss out through injury.
The defence despite numerous changes was able to keep a clean sheet last week as it battled and challenged for every ball. Billy Upton once again showed what a benefit he is at corners, adding his sixth goal of the season, and was superbly supported by Shane Hollamby in the middle. Scott Armsworth may be ready to return, which would push Shane to the bench. Curtis Angell showed what a good signing he is, as his performance in the left back slot, certainly impressed the large Stoke following, present at the game. Mr Utility (James Clark), was asked to do a job at right-back and again performed well that would have made the management team happy with their decision. Will Clark be given that role once more, as Markus Johnson-Schuster, is unlikely to be ready to go tomorrow. Massimo Giamattei may well lose out and thus be an option, whilst I’m not sure of Callum Winchcombe’s availability. Simon Grant was solid once again and will look to add a second clean sheet since arriving at the club.
Having won five of our last six league games, the pressure is clearly off the team, and this should allow us to play a more free attacking style now we’re back home at Winklebury, against a side that has not played since the end of January. Parkway generally score and concede few goals, so the game could stay close, like it did down at Devon, but we’re on a role at this point, which hopefully will be enough to earn the three points tomorrow.
Match Preview by Martin French..
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