Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Basingstoke Town vs Yate Town
When: Tuesday 23rd September 2025 Kick-off 7.45pm
Where: Winklebury Centre, Winklebury Way, Basingstoke. RG23 8BF
Yate Town (The Bluebells), 2024-25 League Finish N/A
With another loss to Havant & Waterlooville, another team we have had little success against in recent years, it leaves us top of a pile of teams with just one win and three draws, as we host promoted side Yate Town
We have not played Yate Town for many, many years.
Our Opponents
The Bluebells are managed by Darren Mullings, signed as a player from Salisbury in the autumn of 2022, and was a former schoolboy under 18 international and England College under 19 international. He joined Bristol Rovers as a trainee and turned professional with them in July 2005; spending two seasons there. He then spent time at Torquay United, before stints at Weston Super Mare & Gloucester City. He joined Chippenham Town in November 2017, and following the departure of manager John Rendell in September 2023, he took temporary charge of Yate Town, which was confirmed 6 weeks later and won promotion in his first full season as manager of the club.
The Bluebells sit next to bottom (21st), just four places below Basingstoke, with a record of Pld 8 Won 1 Drawn 3 Lost 4 and 6pts. Last Saturday they lost 2-0 on the road to Dorchester Town, not helped by a shocking refereeing decision, awarding Dorchester a penalty. With just five league goals from their eight games played, striker Marlon Jackson has two of these goals. Jackson signed for the Bluebells in June 2024, having spent time at Weston-Super-Mare last season. Another Bristol City product, he spent time on loan at clubs such as Hereford, Aldershot, Northampton & Cheltenham, before being released. He also had further spells at Hereford & Chippenham, before signing for Weston-Super-Mare in 2021. they have the well-known 33-year-old joined Daryl Grubb, who joined in the summer of 2025. Grubb spent seven years at Weston-Super-Mare, before signing for League Two side, Forest Green Rovers. He moved back to the Seasiders, before signing for Gloucester City in May 2024. He has scored over 150 goals in his career of over 500 appearances. Another recent signing is 38-year-old striker Chris Zebroski, who joined from Taunton Town. Zebroski has had a checkered career, and has played for over twenty clubs in his career, but whilst at Newport County he was charged and sentenced for robbery, attempted robbery and assault, and spent two years of a 52 month sentence, before being released in 2017.
In midfield Lloyd James, a former Welsh U21 international player, he signed in 2024, from Taunton Town, whilst on loan from Bath City. He also had stints at Colchester Utd & Leyton Orient. Matt Britton also joined the club in the summer, having started his career at Cadbury Heath, then Larkhall Athletic in 2017 and he was there up until February 2022 and spent the remainder of season 2021/22 at Swindon Supermarine before joining Tiverton, where he spent the last three seasons. Another known midfielder is Rex Mannings, who we met when he played for Frome Town and more recently Chippenham Town. Chris Evans, has joined on loan from Newport County, after spending his earlier time at Bristol City academy. Jack Karadogan joined Yate from Turkish side Sanliurfaspor, having previously spent time at Pontypridd & Newport County. He has one of Yate’s five league goals.
The defence contains 23-year-old James Taylor, who joined Yate after initially being on loan from Truro City. He previously played at Bristol City, Bath City (on loan) and Cheltenham Town. Will Larvin was released by Bristol Rovers in the summer of 2024 having spent time on loan at Yate Town, and signed for the club in August 2024, and was part of the promotion side until injury forced him to miss the last few games of the season. Young Charlie White joined on loan from Bristol Rovers, having been on loan for a short period last season at Yate. A product out of Southampton academy, he spent a number of seasons at Bristol Rovers. Dan Dempsey, is a local lad following in his Dad’s footsteps, in playing for the Bluebells. He can play either in defence or midfield, and has played at Melksham Town, then Paulton Rovers, before coming to Lodge Road. In goal will be Aaron Sainsbury, who joined the Bluebells in the summer of 2023. Sainsbury is an ex-Bristol City Pro having signed a contract in 2019 after being in the Bristol City Academy since a young age. He currently is a goalkeeping coach at the Championship outfit.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Following our latest loss, not only did we receive an update of our current injuries, but Ben Jefford will be added to the list, following an unfortunate injury within minutes of his return. The game itself, was another re-run of our previous games, where we play well, with some good possession for periods of the game, but ultimately this all ends with little end product. The starting line-up which had just two attacking players, Liam Ferdinand & Robbie Gallagher, looked hopelessly inadequate, as the midfield failed to get into the oppositions penalty area at key times. Bradley Wilson started on the bench, and was not introduced until less than thirty minutes to go, and again we lacked how to beat a defence that looked determined. With Charlie Austin out for the foreseeable future, and George Reid still nursing a broken hand, it was a surprise that Joel Rollinson was not even in the matchday squad, as it limited any fightback in the second-half.
The midfield, started well, but had to battle against a strong Havant midfield, but unless we makes changes tomorrow night, it may look the same, with James Dickson, Josh Green and our goal-scorer Ben Cook, in the starting line-up. Connor Barratt & D’Andre Brown will be hoping, that changes are made, as they look to bring a different option to an important game against Yate. If not they are likely candidates off the bench once more.
The defence that I have praised in recent matches, looked off it on Saturday, and the system of five at the back, with the two-wing-backs, allowed Havant to break over our back many times, and the first two goals came from those sort of attacks. If we return to a back-four in 24 hours-time, then it may see Scott Armsworth, who was on top form, till the unfortunate own goal, may be the one to miss out. With Elliott Legg still missing through injury, and Ben Jefford back on the sidelines, then the defensive backs, will likely remain as Joe O’Loughlin on the left and Markus Johnson-Schuster on the right. In goal it is unclear who will start as Max Evans wore the goalkeepers jersey, even though twitter stated it would be Simon Grant.
James Clark unless things change is likely to be an option off the bench, and must be frustrated with the lack of playing time he gets.
Yes, this is only game 8 of a long season, but this as many fans stated to me on Saturday and since, that this is a game we need to win, especially with a tough trip to Gloucester City on Saturday.
Match Preview by Martin French..
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