Match Preview: Marlow vs Basingstoke Town – Easter Monday 21st April 2025

Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Marlow vs Basingstoke Town
When: Easter Monday 21st April 2025 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Alfred David Ground, Oak Tree Road, Marlow, Bucks, SL7 3ED
Marlow (The Blues), Avg 2024-25 Home Att 262
In a more defensive set-up last Friday, we matched promotion hopefuls AFC Totton across the pitch for the whole ninety minutes, and in a game short of clear-cut chances, we picked up a worthy point.
We played Marlow back on Boxing Day and despite leading twice, Marlow found a late equaliser and we dropped two points in a 2-2 draw.

Our Opponents
The Blues continue to be managed by Mark Bartley, who is now in his thirteenth season with the club. In his playing career, he played for Hayes, Slough Town, Burnham & Thame Utd, before starting his managerial career at Reading Town, before heading to Marlow.

Marlow bottom of the table and already relegated to Step 4 football next season, were on the end of a seven-nil drubbing at playoff side Gloucester City on Good Friday and are now the only team to have conceded over one hundred goals (108), this season. Their record sits at Pld 40 Won 5 Drawn 6 Lost 29 and 21pts. Their home record sits at 3 wins, 2 draws and 13 losses. With just forty-two goals scored this season, their leading goalscorer is Naheer Omar Nawaf, who we know from previous encounters and has been at the club since 2022, apart from a short stint at Bracknell. Ex Stoke striker Mitchell Parker has seven league goals, who joined from Binfield having scored 12 in 16 games in the early part of the 24/25 season. He has also played for Reading City, Farnborough, and Walton & Hersham. Add midfielder Harry Hoath, who also has seven goals, and is a left footed midfielder, who joined from Uxbridge this season having previously been at Thatcham, Holyport and Maidenhead. Another Marlow striker is another ex-Stokie in Stefan Brown, who joined from them this season and debuted for the Blues in October. His previous clubs were Hungerford, Oxford City and Maidenhead, amongst others.

Apart from Hoath in midfielder, they have Rhys Harper, who has three league goals, and was previously with Burnham, before joining last season and made 41 appearances for the Blues in his debut season, despite missing a portion of the season due to injury. Harvey Maudner is a lively young midfielder, who joined in September this year from Reading Academy, where he featured for their U18 through to their U23’s. Josh Smith joined earlier this season from Woking and is regarded as a young attacking midfielder. He was previously on a two-year scholarship at Sheffield United, having successful spells in their under 18s and 21s. Toby Raggett is another winger, who was signed by Queen of the South for the 2023/24 season, but struggled with injuries, before returning to the Blue late in February 2024.

In defence they have Chris Ovenden, who is a right-sided defender or midfielder who was with Henley Town before joining and who has also played for Hartley Wintney. Alex Salmon, is a tall and very quick defender who can play anywhere across the back four. Mo Jallow, is a young full back/wing back who’s strong on the ball and likes to cover ground, and was previously with a number of clubs such as Borehamwood, Tooting and Mitcham, & Hartley Wintney. Elijah Oladunjoye is the Blues right-back who joined in September 2022. Known for having a long throw. Josh Masters is a strong, fast centre half that reads the game well, as well as being a threat in both boxes. Previously clubs include Sutton Common Rovers, Harlow Town and Cambridge United. In goal currently is Harrison Rhone, regarded as a talented young goalkeeper on loan from Reading FC to gain valuable experience.

Our Basingstoke Town Side
The hard fault point against Totton, with results of our fellow relegation combatants, mean’t we’ve slipped into the bottom four for the first time this season, with two critical games remaining. Our record now sits at a majorly concerning Pld 40 Won 9 Drawn 15 Lost 16 and 42pts, whilst our away record sitting at 4 wins, 9 draws and 7 losses, as we head for our last away game of the season.

Manager Dan Brownlie, made a major change to the line-up last Friday, but with a win or potentially get relegated scenario tomorrow afternoon, you would assume Liam Ferdinand will once again be wearing the No.9 shirt, in an effort to find some goals. George Reid, who appeared to lead the frontline, will be once more joined by Robbie Gallagher. Again if we go the attack from the start, then either Jaden Brissett or Connor Barratt could also get a start. Both saw no playing time against Totton, so should be fit and raring to go.

The midfield were at their best last Friday with James Dickson, leading the way with Joshua Green and Malachai Ogunleye, still proving what good late additions to the squad they’ve been as they more than matched an experienced Totton midfield. Ben Cook & D’Andre Brown are also options if we look to control the middle.

Well the defence once again did what was asked from them, as they held Totton to the odd half-chance throughout the game, but will be called for more of the same for our last two games. With that expectation, we are likely to keep the same back five line-up of Scott Armsworth, Jack Ball and our captain Billy Upton. If however with the prospect of facing Marlow, Dan may go on a more attacking role, and thus one of the centre-backs, may be an option off the bench. Markus Johnson-Schuster and Lewis Colwell, are likely the wing backs, unless Colwell is pushed further up field, to support the midfield. Simon Grant was at his best Friday, making a crucial save in each half.

It is expected that a large Basingstoke crowd will travel to this vital game at Marlow, with the clear expectation that we must pick up all three points, to have any honest chance of remaining in step 3 football. What is also understood that Marlow, although already relegated will be looking to take us down with them.

Please, please let’s have some Stoke goals tomorrow.

Yous support like Good Friday is much needed.

Match Preview by Martin French..