Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Chertsey Town vs Basingstoke Town
When: Tuesday 12th November 2024 Kick-off 7.45pm
Where: Alwyns Lane, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 9DW
Chertsey Town (The Curfews), Avg 2024-25 Home Att 504
We make our third attempt to get this game played following two postponements, and with Basingstoke in need of getting back to winning ways as we head-up into Surrey to take on a Chertsey Town side still in the FA Trophy.
Our Opponents
The Curfews are currently managed by former player Mark Harper. The former Leatherhead, Aldershot Town and Farnborough defender has replaced Dave Anderson in charge of the Curfews having stepped up from Combined Counties Premier club Spelthorne Sports.
Chertsey sit in fifteenth place with their record sitting at Pld 13 Won 5 Drawn 3 Lost 5 and 18pts. Despite their league position, they are the second highest goal-scorers in the league (behind Merthyr’s 45), with 31 goals. Their home record sits at 2 Wins, 2 Draws & 2 Losses, which one was last Saturday in a high-scoring 3-4 defeat to Swindon Supermarine. Their leading striker and goal-scorer is the experienced Jack Mazzone who has eleven league goals, and has returned to the club he started his youth time at, but has played for Woking, Met Police, South Park, as well as Godalming Town before returning this summer. Another player returning to the club is William Montague, after spending time at Binfield & Southall. Montague has five league goals. Another player with five goals is fullback Conor Lee, who started at Spelthorne Sports, then moved to Met Police, where he signed for the Curfews. Lewis Flatman is another attacking player who previously played at Ashford Town & Farnham Town. He has two league goals.
Louis Degand is regarded as an attacking midfield, and has spent time at Met Police. Another ex-Met Police player is Louis Birch, who was there for five seasons as well as Enfield Town. Wayne Ridgley began in the youth set-ups of Chelsea & Crystal place, and was also at Ashford Town. The left side of the midfield should see Ollie Knight, who joined from Enfield Town. Luke Robertson spent a number of seasons, before joining Chertsey Town in the last month.
Apart from Conor Lee, the defence contains Callum Duffy, who joined in the summer from Hanwell Town, and has also spent time at Uxbridge & Southall. Another summer signing is central defender Luke Neville, who came from Beaconsfield Town, after spells at Staines & Egham Town. Simba Kudyiwa, is a centre-back who has had spells at Corinthian Casuals, Beckenham Town and of course Met Police. Defender Isaac Olorunfemi joined in September from Bracknell Town, having spells at clubs such as Hanwell Town, Marlow & Egham Town. Another defender is ex-Stokie Reuben Collins, who spent time with us in the 2019-20 season, whilst on loan from AFC Wimbledon. In goal currently appears to be Jack Smith, who was at Raynes Park Vale, having spent a few seasons at Hayes & Yeading Utd.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Although just our second defeat of the season, it still means us now going five games without a win, but more of a concern was a number of defensive errors, which had been our strongest area of our team. The bright side was the debut of academy player Charlie Barlow, who not only scored our only goal, but gave a half-hour effort that some others lacked Saturday. The loss now leaves us in sixth place with a record of Pld 15 Won 5 Drawn 8 Lost 2 and 23pts. A lack of goals in recent games, has not helped our results, with the last time we scored three goals in a game was way back in August. With current injuries to Nnamdi Nwachuku, Dan Warre & wingers George Reid & Robbie Gallagher, our strikeforce has been limited, with Liam Ferdinand seemingly battling away with little support apart from Brody Peart on the wing. Charlie Barlow’s debut will earn him another spot on the bench tomorrow night, whilst many fans wonder why Jonny Efedje did not get a start after his performance at Swindon Supermarine, so it would be good to see him provide some support to Ferdi upfront from the start.
The midfield was not at its best Saturday, and although improved in the second-half, they will face a tough match-up at Chertsey tomorrow evening. Unless changes are made, I would suggest that Rudy Allen and Sam Deadfield will be in the starting teamsheet. D’Andre Brown has started to show the quality that we had hoped from him, which leaves Simon Dunn & Max Smith, as potential options off the bench once again. With no announcement of Luis Le Paih re-signing for the club, it is unlikely he will make the match-day squad. Flynn Bolton, who is on dual-registration at Kingstonian, is unlikely to get a recall for this game.
Errors at the back, compounded to a poor team performance, but I suspect that the line-up will mainly remain the same, except for one change, as Jack Ball who was rested Saturday, will replace James Clark and will team-up with Billy Upton as the centre-back pairing. This means on the right will be Markus Johnson-Schuster and Curtis Angell will patrol on the left. Aleks Kokoszka, who has now played in a number of different options, could earn a start, but where, if not a good option off the bench. In goal will be Simon Grant, who was not at fault for the three Poole goals Saturday, and made a couple of good saves towards the end of the game.
Despite Chertsey having one eye on their FA Trophy visit to National League South side Bath City on Saturday, we will need to be at our best against an attack-minded Curfew side.
Match Preview by Martin French..
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