Match Preview: Harrow Borough vs Basingstoke Town – Saturday 16th December 2023

Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Harrow Borough vs Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 16th December 2023 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Carlyon Avenue, Earlsmead, South Harrow. HA2 8SS
Harrow Borough (The Boro), Avg 2023-24 Home Att 180
Following our three consecutive home games, we now head back out on the road to lowly Harrow Borough, with expectations of completing the double over them tomorrow afternoon.
We played the Boro at Winklebury back in August, as we smashed five goals past them in one of our more dominating performances of the season, and also keeping a rare clean sheet. Our goal-scorers on the day were Billy Upton, Morrison Hashii, Bradley Wilson, George Reid & Michael Atkinson.

Our Opponents
The Boro are Managed by Jordan Berry, who took over after being in charge at Egham Town. Prior to that he was involved with the academy’s at Watford & Uxbridge. A former player his clubs included Plymouth Argyle, Harrow Borough, Chipstead, Egham & Chalfont St Peter.

Harrow who have not played since their loss to Hungerford Town three weeks ago, sit in a worrying twentieth place with fourteen points the same as twenty-first placed Swindon Supermarine, but seven points above twenty-second and bottom-placed Didcot Town, who we host in eight days’ time. Their overall record sits at Pld 19 Won 3 Drawn 5 Lost 11, with a minus twenty goal difference, having scored just twenty-six times this season. Their last win was back in October, when they won 2-1 at Winchester City. Their home record is a poor 2 wins, 1 draw and 6 losses.
Harrow’s leading goal-scorer is eleven goal attacking midfielder Reece Mitchell, who was a Chelsea youth player, but has since played for clubs like Chesterfield, Torquay, Wealdstone & Hendon, before spending time in Belgium football, then joined the Boro, after playing for Icelandic side Vikingur Olafsvik in August. Their forward line includes Victor Osobu, who has added two goals since recently joining the club, and is another forward we have faced whilst he was at other clubs. Excellence Muhemba (23), has added two league goals, after rejoining the Boro this summer from Egham Town. He has also played for North Greenford Utd, Northwood and others. Another player joining from Egham Town is Lonit Talla, who has added three goals this season. Ex-Chelsea youth player, Harlem Hale has added four goals, but has not appeared in their last couple of games.

Their midfield aside from Reece Mitchell, contains players such as Pap Jawara, a central midfielder, who recently joined the club, has added one goal, and has previously played for Leverstock Green and joined from New Salamis. 29 year-old Stefan Powell, yet another player joining from Egham Town, who has also played for many clubs including MK Dons & Hitchin Town.

The defence will contain left-back Mack Miskin, who joined from Hanwell Town this summer, having previously played for clubs like Braintree, Brightlingsea Regent and Marlow. Reece Yorke is a central defender, and yet one more who joined from Egham Town. Alongside Reece is likely to be Harry Seabrook, who played for Bedford Town, before joining from Tring Athletic. Harry Lukombo is also likely to feature at the back tomorrow. Reece Yorke is another central defender, who has a wealth of experience at a number of step 3 clubs including Beaconsfield, Met Police & Chesham Utd.
In goal for Harrow, is likely to be Tyler Tobin, who we have faced many times before, whilst he was at previous clubs such as Uxbridge & Ashford Town.

Our Basingstoke Town Side
Having picked up just two points from our three home games, we now face back-to-back games against teams who sit in the relegation slots at the bottom. Despite creating many chances in our previous games, and having very little luck, Manager Dan Brownlie, knows these games must be viewed as highly winnable despite the ongoing injury crisis that besets our squad. We still sit in thirteenth place with our record sitting at Pld 22 Won 7 Drawn 5 Lost 10 GF 41 GA 49 with 26pts.

Dan Rowe who has missed the last couple of games, continues to lead our goal-scoring chart with twelve goals, but is likely to miss this Saturday’s game as well. Unless Liam Ferdinand has progressed dramatically from his injury against Hungerford Town, then he will also not be part of the match-day squad. This leaves Bradley Wilson & Stefan Brown, as our likely starters. Wilson, will be looking to add to his eleven goals, on the season, whilst Stefan Brown recently back from injury, will look to open his account this season. Attacking winger George Reid, who played an hour last Saturday, should also be in the starting line-up and has nine goals on the season. It is also understood that Dan may have added another striker to strengthen this area this Saturday.

The midfield decimated by injury following potentially long injury-term expectations for both Simon Dunn & Michael Atkinson, means D’Andre Brown will likely lead this area. Ben Cook’s long-term return from injury is probably a week or way still, which means the versatile James Clark could win a starting role here, but I expect Dan has been active in the 7-day market, and will have lined-up another midfielder to join the squad tomorrow. Would be also good to see the much-liked Luis Le Paih in tomorrow’s squad and this would be very welcome news at this time.

Again depending on how we decide to set-up tomorrow, it will hopefully contain our starting central defenders Scott Armsworth & Billy Upton. Billy added his fourth goal and was also inches away from getting the winner in the dying seconds last Saturday. Markus Johnson-Schuster & Kai Hobbs look to start once again in the defensive back slots, but Callum Winchcombe will be looking to get his starting left-back role following his return from injury.
In goal Paul Strudley should retain the keepers gloves, unless Mark Scott is fit and given a chance for a start. Whoever it is, and with help from the defence, a clean sheet would be good tomorrow.

No matter the difference in league placings, Harrow Borough will look to revenge their heaviest defeat of the season tomorrow, and generally seem to find a way to score. Therefore Dan and the boys will need to be at their best, and this could come down to who can take the few chances when they come along.

Match Preview by Martin French..

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