Match Preview: Southern League Premier Division South
Hanwell Town vs Basingstoke Town
When: Tuesday 11th August 2026 Kick-off 7.45pm
Venue: The Powerday Stadium, Perivale Lane, Greenford UB6 8TL
Hanwell Town (The Geordies), 2025-26 Final League Position 14th
Well our season opener did not get off to the expected start that was hoped, and after our opening chances, and then going behind, we had last season’s concerns of breaking down defensive teams return, as we went down at home to an Evesham team, who left Winklebury with all three points and what appeared an easy days effort to secure those points.
We now face our first away game of the season, as we head into London to take on Hanwell Town.
Last season both teams won on their own park, starting with Stoke’s 3-2 win back in January, with goals by Blake, Bello & Reid on the day. Then with us confirmed safe from relegation, we travelled to London, on the last day of the season, and a James Clark converted penalty, took us into the break level, but Hanwell’s long-throw expert was to be our undoing once more, as we failed to clear, and Hanwell found the winner in a 2-1 loss.
Our Opponents
The Geordies continue to be 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.
Hanwell in their opening game of the season, travelled to one of the newly promoted sides in Malvern Town, and despite twice taking the lead, a late goal for Malvern, mean’t the two teams earned a point in a 2-2 draw. Hanwell finished last season with an overall record of Pld 42 Won 11 Drawn 13 Lost 18 and 46pts. Their home record was at 9 wins, 7 draws and 5 losses, with their last home game, the 2-1 defeat of Stoke back in April.
The Geordies return a number of their players, with Henry Snee, leading the attack. Snee played for Stotfold FC, Hitchin Town, Biggleswade United and St Albans City. Also returning is well-known Harvey Bradbury, whose CV includes numerous EFL clubs, as well as non-league clubs and joined from Havant, and despite him picking up a straight red card at Malvern, will still be available tonight. EX-Bracknell striker Jordan Espirit joined in July, and adds more power to their strikeforce. 28-year-old German-born forward Manu Oke-William, brings a wealth of non-league experience, having previously represented Welling United, Northwood, Binfield, Tooting & Mitcham, Brentwood Town, as well as a couple of lower level German clubs.
In midfield Hanwell picked up ex-Stoke player Max Herbert, who helped keep the Stoke up last season, but he was absent from Hanwell’s opener Saturday. They also have George Knight, another Bracknell player, who made 215 appearances and scored 21 goals during an outstanding five and a half year spell at Bracknell Town before signing for Dorking Wanderers in December. Eddie Cooper is back for another season after leaving Aldershot U21’s last season. Experienced attacking midfielder Zak Joseph is back at Hanwell after a 10-year absence, having played for clubs such as Chesham United, Hampton & Richmond Borough, Hendon & Egham Town.
In defence, the reliable Dwayne Duncan, will start his ninth season with the club, and is known for his threat from corners. Ibrahim Sankou at right-back is back for another season. Another ex-Bracknell player is Gabe George, who is a left-sided player and can play left-back or centre-back. Ade Olumuyiwa joins from Poole Town, and will be one of the centre-backs. Has also played for other clubs such as Farnborough, AFC Totton, Weymouth, Blackfield & Langley. Roberto Nditi, is back for another season, with his previous clubs being Thatcham, Queen of the South, Forfar, Bracknell, Eastbourne, Reading. In goal will be Sam Beasant, who returns as captain, and is the son of former Wimbledon keeper Dave Beasant. He has played for Beaconsfield, and numerous league and Non-League clubs including Maidenhead Utd, Cambridge Utd & Chelmsford City.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Well the opening day loss at home to Evesham, where we failed to score in that opening good twenty minute period, saw us go onto lose on the opening day for the first time since the 2019-20 season, where we lost 4-3 at home to Barnstaple Town, playing down at Winchester.
With this loss and as our Manager stated, we have a lot to improve for tonight’s tough match-up at the Geordies.
Our overall record last year ended at Pld 42 Won 14 Drawn 9 Lost 19, GF 61, GA 71 and 51pts. If we are to mount any serious challenge for the playoffs this season, then we will need to improve on last season’s away record of just 5 Wins, 5 draws & 11 losses. However we go into this season with a number of new strikers, and thus an expectation and need that we can increase our goal total output of 61 last season. Incoming Jeremiah Okine-Peters from Reading, and Finn Evans from Westfield, look to be the starters, especially whilst last seasons returnee Cheick Sylla is still potentially sidelined. Andrei Chiriac is another new striker, but again following a knock in pre-season, is still a week away or so from being in the matchday squad. With this we made two late signings just before opening day, bringing in Farnham’s Miles Obodo, on a 28-day loan. We then added attacking winger Jedidiah Brown from Hampton & Richmond Borough.
The midfield like the forwards, has also undergone major changes, and on Saturday saw returnee Tom Blake be joined by newcomers Louis McGrory, James Henry & Ben Parkinson. Again players such as John Adebiyi, Lloyd Snell & Amareep Singh, who had played much of pre-season were absent from the squad, but it is hoped they could all be back shortly. Our two goals Saturday, did come from two other midfielders in substitutes Aleks Kokoszka & Joe Lewis-Evans, and would assume they will contest for spots on tonight’s squad.
The defence is likely to remain the same as Saturday, and thus Billy Upton will lead the side with Bernie Tanner is centre-back partner. Whether Scott Armsworth can make the match-day squad is unclear, so Casey Bocarro is expected to be a back-up here. On the left should be Joe O’Loughlin once more, whilst D’Andre Brown is expected to be given the chance to cement his place in the right-back slot. Other players available could be Christos Papaskonstantinou (Christos going forward), assuming international clearance has arrived. Simon Grant will once more don the goalkeepers jersey.
Tonight will be a very tough match-up as both teams look to get their first win of the season, but if we can start like we did Saturday, but take our chances when they come along, then we have the side to bring back the three points to Hampshire.
Let’s Go Stoke !
Match Preview by Martin French..
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