Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Bracknell Town vs Basingstoke Town
When: Monday 25th August 2025 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Bottom Meadow, Sandhurst. GU47 9BJ
Bracknell Town (The Robins), 2024-25 League Finish 18th
Well we played the Robins last season, with both games ending in one-one draws, despite fairly dominating both games. In August at Winklebury, we went into the break level, and despite Bracknell being reduced to nine-men, we failed to find the net again. Then On New Years Day, we dominated the first-half, but could only find the net once through Liam Ferdinand’s cool finish, and despite a more even second-half, we held on until added-time, when an unfortunate Jack Ball own goal, gave Bracknell a point.
Our Opponents
The Robins are once again managed by Jordan Ive, who stepped down in September 2024, with Jon Underwood taking on the job. However Ive, has taken on the Manager’s role once again.
Bracknell have started the season, the way they ended last season, very poorly, although they did pick up a decent point at Weymouth, on Saturday, that could have been three. They currently sit in a relegation place, 20th, with a record of Pld 4 Won 0, Drawn 2 Lost 2 and 2pts. Their strikeforce starts with the returning Jordan Esprit, who has returned this season, after spending time at Hemel Hempstead and then Walton & Hersham. Joe Grant is an attacking player on the left, who has two stints at Bracknell before this season, and returns from a season at Chesham Utd. 26-year-old Francis Amartey, has a wealth of experience at clubs such as Aldershot, Weymouth Braintree, and numerous stints at Slough Town, where he joined the Robins in July. 29-year-old Alfie Pavey, is a centre-forward, who has a wealth of experience at National League level with the likes of Welling Utd, Dartford, Dover & Barnet among his list of clubs.
The midfield starts with their captain, Seb Bowerman, who is back once for another season. He did spend three years at Dorking Wanderers, before his latest stint at Bottom Meadow. contains players such as Haydon Vaughan is back for another season, as he carries on his journey since coming through their academy. They also have the experienced Max Herbert, who has been at the club since 2019, having previously spent time at Ashford Town. He also has two goals. They also have George Knight who is another midfielder who been at the club since the 2020-21 season.
In defence is once again the reliable full-back Ethan Burden, who is in his fourth season at the club. Burden, was part of the 2021-22 Isthmian League’s division ‘Team of the Year’. Ex-Stokie centre-half Charlie Kennedy is a new arrival to Bottom Meadow, and has played for a number of clubs at this level, including AFC Totton where defender Sam Magri spent two seasons before joining the Robins. Magri played 31 times for England’s U16 to U10 youth team, and has also spent time at Dover Athletic, Ebbsfleet United before signing for Havant & Waterlooville in 2019. Charlie Street is a young centre-back who is on a three-month loan from QPR’s academy. Jeanmal Prosper is a Dominica international who joined Bracknell at the start of the season. A defensive back , he has played for numerous clubs over his 15-year career. In goal will be the experienced Michael Eacott who is back for his fourth season with the Robins since returning to the club.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Three consecutive 1-1 draws, still leaves us unbeaten, and in eighth place, with other teams on our heels, with our plus two goal difference being the best out of four teams on six points after four games. What did we learn from that ten-man performance, other than that the half-time teamtalk, appeared to wake us up, from what was a very subdued first-half performance, admittedly not helped by a referee who seemed whistle happy at times. With the referee assessor there, it in someways forced the referee to blow for petty free-kicks, at times. One thing you can rely on, is that if Billy Upton is given a half-chance from a corner, he will generally take it, and boy did we need it yesterday.
Anyway, we move onto tomorrow’s trip to Bracknell, knowing that Charlie Austin is again likely to not be part of the matchday squad, but George Reid should hopefully return from illness, as he was sadly missed yesterday. As always Robbie Gallagher put in a massive shift, and got at least two of the six Parkway players booked for fouls on him. Bradley Wilson has yet to get really going, on the goal-scoring front. Joel Rollinson, who was sacrificed due to Scott Armsworth’s red card, is a real candidate for the starting eleven. Rumours that Liam Ferdinand is close to some form gametime, would be good if true.
The midfield battled hard yesterday, against a packed Plymouth midfield, despite never really controlling it, until we pushed them back in the second-half. Unless things change, then James Dickson, Josh Green will be in the starting line-up, with either D’Andre Brown, Ben Cook or Connor Barratt, pushing for the other starting place. Elliott Legg is also a candidate here after replacing Dre at halftime yesterday.
The defence was pretty solid yesterday, despite of course two minutes, which saw Scott see red, and then a lack of response to Simon Grants save from the resulting free-kick. With Scott Armsworth’s red card not taking effect until next Saturday, then our Manager could include him once more if he decides to give a rest to one of the defensive players. It would be highly surprising that Billy Upton does not start the game, and captain the side, as he one of our goal-scoring threats from dead-ball situations. This leaves Jack Ball, Markus Johnson-Schuster & Joe O’Loughlin as the likely starters once again. Legg could also be called upon as cover here, the same with James Clark. Once again Simon Grant did all he could to keep Plymouth out, and for large parts of the game, especially the second-half, had little to do.
Despite Bracknell’s slow start to the season, they will be up for a fight tomorrow afternoon and will battle us for ninety minutes. A ground we have played very well over recent years, but results always seem to get away from us. Hopefully tomorrow we can break that trend.
Match Preview by Martin French..
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