Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Havant & Waterlooville vs Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 7th February 2026 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Westleigh Park, Martin Road, Havant, Hampshire PO9 5TH
Nickname – The Hawks, 2025-26 Curr League Position 9th
A late, late James Clark converted penalty, gave us that ‘Get Out of Jail’ free card, as we took a point from under Uxbridge’s nose last Saturday. Tomorrow we head down to take on Havant & Waterlooville, in the reverse league fixture, where back in September, it was goal-less after thirty minutes, then an unfortunate own goal, saw the visitors add two further goals, as we headed towards the break, until a Ben Cook finish, pulled a goal back,but was not only the end of the scoring for the half, but indeed the whole game, as we lost 3-1.
Our Opponents
The Hawks continue to be managed by Shaun North, who joined the Hawks in a new role from neighbours and now EFL Championship side Portsmouth FC after working in John Mousinho’s EFL League One title winning side last campaign. He brings a wealth of experience to the Hawks possessing in surplus of 20-years coaching with Pompey across multiple spells amongst other coaching and Management experience.
The Hawks were idle last Saturday, as their game at Farnham Town, fell foul of the weather, so their last game was the 1-0 home loss to Bracknell Town ten days ago. With this they now sit in ninth place, with an overall record of Pld 27 Won 11 Drawn 4 Lost 12 and 37pts. Their home record is a 7 wins, 2 draws and 5 losses. Their goal-scoring, starts and finishes with Ryan Seager, who has two hat-tricks, and one quadruple since Boxing Day, and leads the league with thirty goals so far. Seager, came through the set-up at Southampton where he played for their U21’s until 2019. He had loans spells at Crewe Alexandra, then MK Dons in League One, plus spells at Yeovil Town, Dutch side SC Telstar, Hungerford & Dorking Wanderers, before returning to Havant at the end of 2023. Striker Ethan Giwa-McNeil (22), now has four goals after joining this season, having previously been with Enfield Town, as well as some time on loan with Baldock Town on a return to England following a spell playing in the USA. Ex-Stokie, Nana Owusu who played from 2014 to 2018, has also played for a number of National League sides, but more recently Bracknell and Walton & Hersham. He’s currently an option off the bench.
The midfield returns a number of players from last season, starting with Alfie Whittingham, who has four goals on the season, and made over 80 appearances for Aldershot over three seasons, before coming back to Havant. The club added Olly Pendlebury (23), who spent 13 years at Reading, including an FA Cup tie against Luton Town in 2021. He them moved onto Wycombe Wanderers & Woking before spending time at Farnborough, where he rejoined the Hawks. Irishman, Paul Rooney made his Hawks return on a short-term deal in October 2025 and has since made 13 appearances, scoring one goal. He has played for numerous clubs, but more recently Colchester Utd, Dover Athletic & Dartford. Leon Maloney, has two goals, and was a Portsmouth academy attacking winger, who joined from AFC Totton. Daniel Fosu, joined the Hawks in December, after beginning his career at Farnborough, followed by a spell at Thatcham Town, before signing a professional contract with Scottish side Arbroath, then Peterhead, before returning to England to ply at Hanwell & Uxbridge.
In defence they have Brendan Willson, who was an U19 player at Eastleigh joining Eastleigh’s Development Squad from Wimborne Reserves. Now 20, he signed for Havant in June 2024 for the upcoming season. Harvey Laidlaw, 18, is a product of Portsmouth FC’s academy set-up and made the switch to the Hawks last season. In the summer of 2023, Harvey spent the first-half of that campaign on loan at Gosport Borough. Young Freddie Taylor (19), started at Watford’s youth system, then Brentford, before signing for Bromley in the Summer of 2025, before joining the Hawks this season. George Milner-Smith, after spending some loan time at Westleigh Park, is now a permanent fixture for the team, having started at Aldershot, he has spent time at Fleet Town, Northwood, Sholing, then Whitehawk in 24/25. In goal is currently young 18-year-old Lorenz Ferdinand, who came through Brighton, then in Havant’s U21 side before stepping up recently.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
With just the point last Saturday, we are now winless in the last four games, as we head into a tough February campaign, starting with Havant tomorrow. We currently sit in eleventh place, with our record at Pld 28 Won 10 Drawn 5 Lost 13 and 35pts. Our away record sits at 3 wins, 3 draws and 7 losses. Last Saturday we went with an adventurous strikeforce, which too many fans, did not seem to work. With a tougher prospect in Havant tomorrow, I would expect us to add an extra midfielder into the mix, which means Cheick Sylla, Robbie Gallagher & George Reid, would expect to be the obvious starters tomorrow. This leaves Joe Barough, a potential return of Ore Bello, and Dan Rowe, either fighting for one spot, or give us some good attacking options off the bench.
With that heavily-laden strikeforce last week, Tom Blake was given a large role in midfield, and many fans were surprised once the line-up was announced of the starting inclusion of Ben Cook, in front of Josh Green, or D’Andre Brown. However, the club have now signed midfielder Joe Grant, who left Bracknell Town, by mutual consent earlier this week. What this does to the dynamics of the team for tomorrow will be interesting, as I assume he will be part of the matchday squad. James Dickson is still waiting for his chance to get the nod for a start also, and lets not forget we have Lloyd Snell as well.
The defence was under intense pressure last week, but only conceded one goal, somewhat due to poor finishing by Uxbridge. It will face a much sterner test tomorrow, in trying to keep Ryan Seager under wraps, who got a brace in our first match-up back in September. Centre-half Jack Ball saw some late action last week, and will be looking for added-minutes tomorrow, but unless we change our formation, does he replace either Scott Armsworth or our captain Billy Upton. On the right it will likely be James Clark, who came to our rescue with his late penalty conversion, whilst on the left should be Joe O’Loughlin. Other potential options here are Elliott Legg, if fit, D’Andre Brown, who was trialled their in the North-Hants Cup game against Whitchurch, and Lloyd Snell who also played their against Weymouth. Simon Grant will once more wear the keepers jersey tomorrow afternoon.
In just under 24 hours, we have the first of four tough match-ups, and we will need to keep a tight rein on Havant’s Ryan Seager, if we are to come back from the South coast with any points. Lots of options for Manager Dan Brownlie to consider, and it will be interesting to see how we set-up tomorrow.
Let’s go Stoke !
Match Preview by Martin French..
English 
Polish 
As always a good read and information, you do not get elsewhere.