Using Player Information From Last Week’s Preview
Match Preview: Southern League Premier South Division
Basingstoke Town vs Swindon Supermarine
When: Saturday 4th November 2023 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Winklebury Sports Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Swindon Supermarine (Nickname – The Marine), Avg 2023-24 Home Att 300
Having beaten Swindon last Saturday in the FA Trophy, we now head home to take on the Marine in the league tomorrow afternoon.
Our three-nil victory in the appalling weather conditions, confirmed by first-half goals by Nathan Smart, and a goalkeeping error, were backed up by Liam Ferdinand’s first goal for the club in the second-half, allowed us to progress to the second-round of the FA Trophy.
Our Opponents
The Marine managed by Stuart Fleetwood, following last weeks loss in the FA Trophy, will now have his hands full in trying to get team out of the relegation zone in the coming months.
With few games in the league over the past seven days, the Marine remain bottom of the Southern League Premier Division, with just four draws and nine losses from their thirteen games played. Although many felt they had a goal waived away at the start of last week’s second-half, they clearly continue to have trouble scoring goals, but will look to add to their seventeen goals this weekend. Striker Levi Irving remains their leading goalscorer with five goals on the season, and will likely start alongwith Zack Kotwica. Both Ryan Campbell and Brad Gray, may once again start on the bench, but offensive improvements are being sought to upgrade this area as well.
Joe Tumelty, led the midfield presence last week, but with Henry Spalding and Jake Andrews, alongwith Jamie Edge, they will need to up their game, if they are to create more for the front two.
The defence already breached thirty-nine times in the league this season, will be under pressure once again, but one bright spot was the attacking presence of left-sided Liban Ibrahim, who might be better pushed into a more forward role.
Despite the goal-keeping error by Conor Brann, he will likely once more be between the sticks tomorrow.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Last weekend’s victory against tomorrow’s opponents, saw a number of positional changes by Manager Dan Brownlie, along with a full-team effort and performance, worked even better than had hoped. That win added to our midweek North-Hants Cup win, will have allowed one or two players to have rested ahead of another tough game tomorrow.
Like our opponents our league position (seventh) remains the same, and we will look to add to our thirty-two league goals on the season. Our strikeforce, with the added element of Liam Ferdinand, will look to and take advantage of the chances we create against a porous defence that has let in thirty-nine league goals. Dan Rowe, who missed out last week, will look to add to his ten goals, whilst Bradley Wilson who looked sharp in both games, could be on the edge of a breakout scoring effort. If Stefan Brown is ready to go, and if George Reid can recover from injury, this area of the team, will look to open-up Supermarine’s defence all-afternoon.
It is expected that Michael Atkinson will lead the team out tomorrow afternoon and his experience with the added versatile James Clark, will look to control the middle of the pitch. Depending on how we set-up at the back, then D’Andre Brown who had an excellent attacking right back role last week, could slip back into his more usual midfield role. Back-up roles here, may see Josh De Lacey-Turner, and academy players Harvey Collins & Aleks Kokoska earn roles on the bench once again.
The defence who had Supermarine, looking to come back into the game held strong and were resolute in its determination against a number of attacks whilst dealing with the weather, will likely be led once again by the experienced Nathan Smart & Shane Hollamby in the centre-back roles, whilst Markus Johnson-Schuster will hold down one of the defensive back roles. Again Jon Boardman looks to be a back-up on the bench.
The keeper’s gloves will more than likely be worn by Paul Strudley, who made two huge saves last Saturday.
Well we put an end to Swindon Supermarine’s unbeaten four game run, and although the cup and league are two different games, the Marine will be looking for revenge.
Basingstoke assuming no further injuries have been picked up in the past seven days, will head into this rematch with confidence, and with a strong attacking force, they will be itching to get on the scoresheet tomorrow afternoon.
Once again rain is expected throughout the day, but will surely be unlike the monsoon both sets of players and fans and cope with last week.
With this being our Remembrance Day match, please come along and support the club on this important day, and let’s hope for the three points as well.
Match Preview by Martin French..
English 
Polish 
A well-observed remembrance ceremony and with a win, a good day all round.