Match Preview: Evo Stick South Premier Division South
Gosport Borough v Basingstoke Town
When: Wednesday 26th December 2018 Kick-off 3.00pm
Where: Privett Park, Privett Road, Gosport. PO12 3SX
Well we travel to Gosport Borough following a hard-earned win at home to Walton Casuals, with the hope of back-to-back wins for the first time since October.
Our opponents on Boxing Day Gosport Borough currently sit in 17th place, two places below Basingstoke. Their league record sits at Played 20 Won 7 Drawn 1 Lost 12 with 22pts.
Gosport coached by ex-Basingstoke player Craig McAlister have had somewhat of an up and down season. Recent results included last Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Kings Langley, then the week before they went to 2nd placed Weymouth and came away with a 1-3 victory. Prior to that losses against Dorchester and Swindon Supermarine are the reason they have fallen so far down the table.
The Boro, can also stake claim to having two other ex-Stoke players in their squad, in defender Ryan Case and in the “He’s one of our own” chant, Defender/midfielder George Bennett who joined them about 6 weeks ago from the Camrose and will likely line-up against on Boxing Day.
Their leading goal-scorer is striker Ryan Pennery with 11 goals, but he is ably backed by fellow strikers Patrick Suraci with 8, Tony Lee with 6 goals, whilst McAllister has added 3 goals this season.
As for Martin Kuhl’s Basingstoke, it is understood that a number of missing players who missed last Saturday’s game due to illness, will be available for selection and it will be interesting what line-up Martin Kuhl will decide to go. With Harry Philby deciding to leave the club for personal reasons, this will likely put Hollamby back in the running for a starting role at the back along with Dean Stow and Dan Bayliss, who will also be in contention to regain their starting roles. Who will fill the left back role as Drew Matthews performed well in Rob Gerrard’s absence?
It does mean that our Captain Charlie Kennedy will more likely move back to the midfield slot, but who will he select to play in the likely four-man midfield. Sam Deadfield is your creative star and Harry Pearse who scored and starred on his debut will likely keep his place, which leaves one spot for either Dan Collier or Zidan Akers.
Up front will be Sam Argent and Sam Smart, and it would be great to see George Bennett try and deal with Smartie’s pace, but George is more likely to fill a midfield role for the home team.
This is a game that 3 points are very possible and are needed if we are honestly going to make a push up the table.
Anyway, by the time some of you will read this preview, you may have already had opened your Christmas presents, even had your Christmas lunch, and I hope on your wish list was another Basingstoke win under an impressive start by Martin Kuhl.
Match Preview by Martin French..
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