Match Preview: Evo Stick South Premier Division South
Dorchester Town V Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 16th March 2019 Kick-off 3.00pm
Where: The Clayson Stadium, Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester. DT1 2RY
Getting back to winning ways last week, we temporarily eased some of our relegation worries with that deserved three points against Swindon Supermarine. However, we are back in the fray this week and with talk of this being a six-pointer, we travel down to Dorset to take on a dangerous Dorchester Town on their 3G surface.
We hosted The Magpies back at the beginning of October and lost 1-2 after Dorchester grabbed a 93rd minute winner. Our team has dramatically changed since then with McAdden, Philby, Bennett, Bunting and McKnight departing the club.
Our record at Dorchester in recent seasons, apart from an FA Trophy victory, has been poor to say the least.
Dorchester come into this game having recently changed their Manager, when they replaced Steve Thompson with Callum Brooks. As expected their team has picked up since his arrival as they earned a good point in a 2-2 draw at Farnborough. Then just three days ago they took apart Merthyr Town on their own 3G pitch in a 7-1 mauling.
Their current record sits at Played 34 Won 11 Drawn 9 and Lost 14 with 42pts. Despite the massive 7 goals on Tuesday night, their goal difference sits at scored 51, conceded 61 which is -10, and they sit in 15th just one place above us in the table.
Their leading goal-scorer is young forward Benjamin Seymour with 11 league goals. I have been reliably informed that Seymour is on loan from Exeter City and is the son of Warren Patmore.
Midfielder Antonio Diaz has 8 goals and forward Luke Winsper has 6 league goals. Midfielder Tom Blair has added 5 as well.
Basingstoke are back on the road and yes another 3G surface where our record is pretty appalling. Never mind previous seasons , we have played three times on this surface this season so far and apart from a 3-3 draw at Walton Casuals on the opening day of the season, we have lost at Merthyr and Hendon. More worryingly is that our performances have been pretty average on this type of surface.
Sitting in 16th place our record stands at Played 34 Won 12 Drawn 5 and Lost 17 with 41pts. Our away record stands at W 4 D 3 L 10 and have scored 28 goals on the road, an average of 1.65 goals per game. The problem is that we have lost by the odd goal in many games and a lot of late, late goals too. The season we got relegated from the National League South, we lost 21 pts in the last five minutes of matches. This season is heading that way as well and is the real concern we need to alter.
Last week with the pair of QPR loanees out through injury, our defence still played well and although Swindon were maybe poor, I would rather state that we kept them in check and we also won the midfield battle all-afternoon long.
In midfield the return of Harry Pearse brought a different concept to our attacks and both he Sam Deadfield and Sam Smart flourished last Saturday. We did need a holding defender and Michael Atkinson did that role well. Saying that I would love to Charlie Kennedy back in midfield.
Yet again despite the two goals, we did miss chances but more of a concern, failed to put a shot of substance at their back-up keeper for 10-15 mins.
I would love to see a replacement for Manny Williams, that could help us get clear of the danger-zone.
Fans will ask the same questions from Friday till game time around who will be available, as in recent months, the options are endless.
However, no matter the line-up, the team needs to come away from Dorset on Saturday with at least a point.
The boys can do it, so all those travelling to the game, let’s get behind them for 90 minutes!
Odds please Ian, when you get a chance.
Match Preview by Martin French
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