Match Preview: Evo Stick South Premier Division South
Hendon FC v Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 2nd March 2019 Kick-off 3.00pm
Where: Silver Jubilee Park, Townsend Lane, Kingsbury, London. NW9 7NE
The first of the final ten games of the season as we enter March and our third consecutive away trip in a row as we travel into London for the last time this season.
This is a new ground for all Stoke fans to visit Hendon who play on a 3G pitch.
With matches in mid-week going against us, both Basingstoke and Hendon slipped further down the table and sit in 15th and 16th respectfully.
Both teams enter this match-up on 38 pts and on two-game losing streaks and both really need a win to move away from the relegation battle.
In the first match-up at the Camrose back in a wet and windy December, Stoke with most of the chances and play won 2-1 behind goals by Dan Bayliss and Sam Deadfield, whilst German scored for Hendon.
This match was also the first of Hendon’s long losing streak which dropped them out the playoff places and they were never to return.
Hendon a fan-owned club are managed by James Gray, and their current record sits at Played 32 Won 10 Drawn 8 and Lost 14 with 38pts. Their goal difference sits at -8 which is why they sit below us in the table.
Their last two league results were both losses at home to Weymouth 2-3 on Tuesday night and last Saturday’s 0-4 drubbing by 10-man Gosport Borough.
Having scored 51 league goals, their leading goal-scoring is forward Ricardo German who has 16 or 17 league goals depending on which website is accurate. He is ably supported by fellow forward Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick who has 12 goals and ex-Farnborough forward Connor Calcutt with 5 and Cole Brown on 4 who now plays for Walton Casuals.
They also have ex-Stokie and last season’s most improved player trophy winner, defender Guri Demuria on their books, but he’s been out injured for some months now.
Basingstoke travel to North London on the back of two 2-1 away defeats, where in both games we pulled back second-half equalisers, only to let the opposition score late winning goals.
Our record similar to Hendon’s sits at, Played 32 Won 11 Drawn 5 and Lost 16 with 38pts. We have scored 10 more league goals than Hendon at 61, but our goal-difference still sits at -1.
It is hoped that we will have back two-or three players back from injury to allow Manager Martin Kuhl some starting line-up options.
It will also be interesting to see what central defensive pair will be available this weekend and it would be good to see a settled pair for a few games.
Up front Sam Argent has 12 league goals and leads our league goal-scoring and depending on what formation we go with could have the returning Ben Wright alongside him.
In midfield Sam Deadfield (7 goals), & Sam Smart (6 goals), will be supported by the likes of Collier, Akers and Atkinson.
In defence, we have Dean Stow (9 goals), as the only player whose name is imprinted on the team sheet each week, especially with Rob Gerrard departing the club this week.
Yes it’s a big- game for both teams, a point is really the minimum Basingstoke need from this game, but like most away games a full 90 minute performance will be needed.
Odds please Ian, when you get a chance.
Match Preview by Martin French..
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