Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Hanwell Town vs Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 13th January 2024 Kick-off 3pm
Where: The Powerday Stadium, Perivale Lane, Greenford UB6 8TL
Hanwell Town (The Geordies), Avg 2023-24 Home Att 336
Following last Saturday’s loss at promotion candidates Merthyr Town, we now travel to Hanwell Town, in the first of two potential six-pointers tomorrow afternoon.
We played Hanwell Town back in August, in our first home game of the season, and were not at our best going three goals behind in the first-half. Our only reply was a late headed-goal by Dan Rowe, as we lost 3-1.
Our Opponents
The Geordies are managed by Chris Moore who has a wealth of league & non-league football experience, having as a player played for the likes of Uxbridge, Northwood, Dagenham & Redbridge & Brentford. His management career started at Egham Town in the 2017-18 season, swiftly moving with Wayne Carter to take on the reins at Hanwell Town. Moore, then took over sole control in the 2022-23 season.
After last Saturday’s results, we switched places with Hanwell Town, who now sit in thirteenth place. Their record sits at Pld 24 Won 7 Drawn 7 Lost 10, and 28pts. They have a -8 goal difference. However, having gone through a similar poor run of thirteen games without a win, they head into our match-up on a three game winning streak. Their leading goal-scorer is ex-Bedfont Sports forward Sam Evans, who has notched up fourteen goals on the season. Evans (21), started his career coming through the Woking academy, before moving upto their first team, then on to Westfield and then to the Sports. Forward Dan Carr, joined the club midway through this season, after being at Bracknell and Met Police. Carr, has added two goals this season. Experienced striker Eliott Benyon also joined Hanwell at the start of the season, and has three goals. His career includes clubs such as Swindon, Torquay and more recently Slough Town & Oxford City. Another forward is ex-Kingstonian & Hartley Wintney player Jacob Bancroft.
In midfield Mat Mackenzie, after a successful season at South Park, joined the Geordies at the start of this season, and has added five goals. Attacking midfielder Jenson Wright has added five goals this season. Jack Hutchinson rejoined the club in 2019, and has just returned to the line-up this season following an earlier injury.
In defence, a player we will need to mark central defender Dwayne Duncan, who has five goals this season. He previously played at Harpenden. Fullback Isaac Olorunfemi, joined from Marlow this season, and is ever-present since his arrival. Bernie Tanner, who scored his only goal against Basingstoke earlier in the season, joined the Geordies having spent his two previous season at Met Police.
In goal will be Sam Beasant, (son of former Wimbledon keeper Dave Beasant), joined in October from Beaconsfield, and has played for numerous league and Non-League clubs
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Despite a bright start against Merthyr Town side last Saturday, we were outdone by a pacy Merthyr attack, who were helped by two first-half penalties and a goalkeeping error, as they went on to win four-one. Our goal also came from the penalty spot, which Bradley Wilson slotted away. The latest loss, means our last league win was now thirteen games ago, and leaves us just six places above the relegation zone, with an overall record of Pld 27 Won 7 Drawn 7 Lost 13 GF 48 GA 63 with 28pts. It is however an ongoing concern, as the teams below all have a number of games ranging from three to nine in hand of us.
It was good to see a number of our players make a return in some way last week, and it is hoped that unused substitute Liam Ferdinand, could also be ready for a starting role this weekend. It is assumed that Dan Rowe and Bradley Wilson, who now share the top of Stoke’s goal-scoring chart with thirteen, will start, but who else could start in an attacking mode, depends on how we set-up. Add George Reid & Stefan Brown to this mix as well.
With a number of our midfield stars returning, it could be an option that we play a more defensive holding set-up, with Simon Dunn & Michael Atkinson, the probable starters, and potentially Paul Hodges who can play a more holding role, but keeping his attacking elements as well. There’s also the question of what we do with D’Andre Brown & Massimo Giamattei (if fit?), in this area as well. Add Luis Le Paih who must be close to a return and would be a welcome option on the bench.
Despite defending well for two-thirds of the game, it was still costly errors at the back, that saw us concede four goals for the third time in five matches, and this clearly affects the outcome of our games. It is not just the back four/five that should take all the blame, as other players could help at the back also. Depending on the injury-status of Anthony Cheshire, then our defence is likely to be made up from Markus Johnson-Schuster, Billy Upton, Nathan Smart, Callum Winchcombe & Kai Hobbs. Scott Armsworth I’m led to believe will serve his second of a two-game ban tomorrow.
In other areas of the pitch we have brought in reinforcements to improve, back-ups when needed, and with both goalkeepers Paul Strudley & Mark Scott, having made errors as well having had injuries at some point in the season, it may be time to reinforce this area as well.
Tomorrow’s game is likely to be a tense affair, as both teams seek the win to help them pull away from the bottom-half of the league.
We should also note that if Hanwell can turn their season around, then surely we can do the same, and tomorrow would be an ideal time to start.
Despite our poor run of form, there will be a large Basingstoke following at the Powerday Stadium tomorrow, and we can be the 12th man, that could finally help us turn the corner.
Match Preview by Martin French..
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