Match Preview: Isthmian League South Central Division
Bedfont Sports v Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 27th November 2021 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Bedfont Sports Recreation Ground, Hatton Road, Bedfont. TW14 9QT
Bedfont Sports (Nickname – Sports or Eagles), Average 2021-22 Home Attendance 123
Admission Prices: Adults £8, Concessions £6 Under 16’s Free
Tickets can be pre-purchased online at app.fanbaseclub.com//Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=1037
Well after last week’s ultimately one-sided win at nine-man Sutton Common Rovers, we face the much stronger match-up against Bedfont Sports in a 3rd vs 4th placed match-up in North-West London.
Our Opponents
Starting with their 37-year-old player-Manager Paul Johnson, who is in his fourth season with the Eagles and has a wealth of experience at a number of non-league clubs.
Following their mid-week 2-0 win at Chalfont St Peter, they switched places with us and now sit in third place with a current record of Played 12 Won 8 Drawn 3 Lost 1 GF 30 GA 10 PTS 27
As their record states they average 2½ goals a game whilst conceding less than a goal a game. Their one league loss was against everyone’s expected league favourites Bracknell Town 2-1 on the road back in September. Since that game they went over a month without playing a league game due to their continuance in the Cups.
When they did play next in the league they gave an 11-man Sutton Common Rovers a 7-1 thrashing. This was followed by two further homes wins against Binfield (2-1), and Thatcham Town (4-0). A 1-1 draw at Westfield, was then followed by a 2-0 win at home to Northwood. This brought them into November and after another 1-1 draw on the road, this time against South Park, a comfortable 4-0 home win at their Recreation Ground, brings them last Tuesday’s win on the road at Chalfont.
In between their league success, they were also hugely successful in the FA Cup, initially beating Herne Bay, before another Sports side, Spelthorne Sports after a replay. The next round saw an impressive 1-0 win at National league South side Dulwich Hamlets, before sending Sholing out via another replay. However, they then finally succumbed to National League North side Kidderminster Harriers one-nil at home in the 4th Qualifying round, in front of probably their biggest crowd for some years (412).
Taking a look at their expected squad, as a number of players like us, could be missing for tomorrow’s game. Their leading goal-scorer is 23 year-old midfielder Daryl Sanders, who has 10 goals, five in the league (two via the penalty spot), and five in the cups. Sanders has been at the club since playing for their U18 side. However, Sanders appears to be one of those likely to miss this Saturday’s game through injury. Striker Lewis Flatman (21), another youth product has 6 goals, four in the league. Fellow striker Ezekiel Bademosi, back from a spell at step 3 Merstham, has five goals, four in the league. They also have the experienced Charlie Postance (28), with five goas, four league goals.
In midfield, without Sanders, they have experience in Tom Brunton (27) who is back from long-term injuries and Max Webb (28), who will hold that area together.
As stated they are strong in defence and is led by team captain 22 year-old Joe Jackson, who has four goals on the season, and is another youth product. Alongside him will be 21year-old Ethan Kaiser who joined from Tooting & Mitcham and Michael Kinsella, who has spent time at Chertsey Town.
Other defenders include full-backs Lewis Pegg (19) from Slough Town and in recent weeks they have strengthened their squad signing Giovanni Palmer from Northwood, and Jamarie Brissett from Tooting & Mitcham. Connagh Wilks (21), will also be inline for a starting role.
Their goalkeeper will be 20-year-old Dimitrios Kyriatzis, who joined them from Burnham FC.
Looking at their expected line-up they will likely be defensive heavy, whilst still very strong in creating goals.
Your Basingstoke Town Side
Well having played three of the top five clubs in the past month, we once again will need to be at our best to match the Sports, as like us not only are they unbeaten at home in the league, they also have one of the best defences in the league.
Last Saturday’s win, which initially saw us go behind, was then eased by the first of two straight red cards. A neat finish by Bradley Wilson, was then doubled by his worldy volleyed finish from the edge of the penalty area, which put us 2-1 ahead at the break. Wilson’s hat-trick early in the second-half and then neat finishes from Anton Rodgers & Lloyd Snell secured what was a comfortable victory, and were it not for their emergency keeper, defender Aaron Bogle between the sticks, would surely have been a lot more.
That win leaves us sitting in fourth place with an overall record of PLD 12 Won 8 Drawn 2 Lost 2 GF 25 GA 19 Points 26.
Wilson’s renewed goal-scoring now sees him with seven goals on the season, and although leading goal-scorer Conor Lynch (13), is reportedly still a week away from returning from injury, it is hoped Stefan Brown will be back in the starting line-up, or on the bench tomorrow.
This likely means that both wingers George Reid and McKoy Palmer (four goals), will play significant roles, unless Manager Dan Brownlie decides to start one on the bench.
As usual the midfield should see the vastly experienced Simon Dunn with the captain’s armband, with further decisions on who plays alongside him, as Anton Rodgers, is likely to push Ben Cook and D’Andre Brown for a starting slot tomorrow. Young talented academy star Lloyd Snell impressed yet again coming off the bench last Saturday, and his pace and skill maybe utilised that way this weekend. Jack French who has impressed when coming on as a second-half replacement is likely to be in that role again.
In defence, centre-back Daryl Wollers had a very easy time last weekend, and will be joined by either Robert Sheridan (if fit), or Jon Boardman, whilst Shaun Dallimore is still a couple of weeks away.
The full-back roles are now highly competitive and will be any two from James Haworth, Lewis Hayden, Daniel Robertson and possibly the experienced Nathan Smart if fit to return.
The keeper’s gloves will as usual be on the hands of the reliable Paul Strudley.
After last week’s superb support at Sutton Common Rovers, it is hoped that we will travel back upto the Heathrow corridor to give Dan and the boys the much-needed support for us to battle and secure something from this game.
Match Preview by Martin French..
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