Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Basingstoke Town vs Plymouth Parkway
When: Saturday 4th January 2025 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Plymouth Parkway (Parkway), Avg 2024-25 Home Att 415
We head back to Winklebury for the first of two consecutive home games starting with tomorrow’s game against Plymouth Parkway.
We played the Parkway on the opening day of the season down in Devon, and deservedly left with a three-one win. Goals by Dan Warre (now departed), Jonny Efedje & Rudy Allen.
Our Opponents
Their Manager is Chris McPhee who took over in the off season. 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.
Parkway have again struggled and sit in nineteenth in the table with an overall record of Pld 22 Won 5 Drawn 6 Lost 11 and 21pts. Their last game at AFC Totton on New Years Day was postponed, so their away record sits at 1 Win, 4 Draws & 6 Losses. Their last away game was a five-nil drubbing at Frome Town, having thrashed Gloucester City six-nil at home seven days before. Their leading goal-scorer is unsurprisingly the on loan striker Tom Beardmore, with eleven league goals (scoring all six in the Gloucester thrashing). His loan from Exeter City has been extended past the initial three-month period. Defender and captain of the side Shane White has added five league goals. Striker Dylan Jones has also added five goals after returning with a new contract this season.
The midfield contains players such as Callum Hall, who has four goals, and has become a mainstay at Bolitho, establishing himself in the heart of midfield. Rio Garside is one of two Garside’s in the side and has two goals. His younger brother Carlo also a midfielder began last season at Bolitho but would play most of the season at Devon neighbours Tiverton Town. After a short spell at Willand Rovers, Carlo is back at Bolitho where he belongs. There is also James Watts-Barciela is another young player, who is establishing himself at the club and has three league goals. Mikey Williams is in his seventh season at the club. Jack Endacott is one of the brightest young talents in the region and joins Parkway following a brief spell at Langsford Park. Taylor Scarff, The British Virgin Islands international joins Parkway as he continues his impressive career. One of Macca’s first signings, Taylor will look to establish himself at the heart of the Parkway defence.
Apart from Shane White, they young 18 year-old Sam Joce who is another new signing who joins the Parkway after being released by Exeter City. Another exciting youngster is Tom Dean who is also on loan from Exeter City. Taylor Scarff, is a British Virgin Islands international who joins Parkway as he continues his impressive career. One of Macca’s first signings, Taylor will look to establish himself at the heart of the Parkway defence. In goal in recent matches has been Ewan Griffiths who is on a short-term loan from Cardiff City academy.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Two late comebacks from the opposition at Dorchester and Bracknell saw us drop five points out of six, but the performances and effort were put in, especially in the tough match-up against bitter rivals Bracknell.
We now sit in eighth place, with our record at Pld 23 Won 7 Drawn 10 Lost 6 and 31pts. Liam Ferdinand’s clean & clinical finish at Bracknell, now gives him eleven goals on the season. But he provides more than just goals, whilst heading our forward line mainly on his own, whilst attacking wingers Brody Peart & Robbie Gallagher provide the attacking moves down each wing. Gallagher who ran the Bracknell defence ragged, despite the numerous heavy tackles on him. Both are inline to start tomorrow, unless George Reid is ready to return to the starting line-up. Nnamdi Nwachuku could also earn a start, if we go with a more attacking formation.
Both Rudy Allen & Sam Deadfield will head-up the midfield once again, which leaves a number of options, that seems to change game to game, but leaves us with starting either Ben Cook, D’Andre Brown or Luis Le Paih. All three seem to play one game, then are active second-half substitutes the following game. Le Paih has scored twice since his return, and is a strong goal-scoring option from a midfield lacking goals.
The defence made a late change due to personal reasons at Bracknell, but it is hoped that things will be back to normal tomorrow afternoon, which means Billy Upton alongside Jack Ball in the middle and Marcus Johnson-Schuster on the right. James Clark once again proved his worth, playing in that left-back role once more, but could be replaced by usual left-back, Curtis Angell. Scotty Armsworth who was a late inclusion into the starting line-up, reminded many Stoke fans on the quality he possessed when he was fit and playing alongside Billy Upton last season. Simon Grant who had looked in control and was looking strong to earn a clean sheet, until that added-time own goal, will of course be the starting keeper tomorrow afternoon.
After two games on the road against teams at the top half of the table, we now host a team once again in the relegation places, with us having a lot to prove that we can beat these teams, at the bottom. Yes Plymouth have been on a better run of form in the past couple of weeks, but this has generally been when they have been at home.
The expected weather for tomorrow afternoon, is not great with it being bitterly cold, with the possibility of sleet showers during the game. Therefore let’s hope Stoke can warm us up tomorrow and pick up the three points.
Match Preview by Martin French..
English 
Polish 