Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Sholing vs Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 27th December 2025 Kick-off 3pm
Where: The Mortgage Decisions Stadium, Portsmouth Road, Southampton, SO19 9PW
Sholing (The Boatmen), 2024-25 Final League Position 11th
Basingstoke fans were sent into the Christmas break, with our first goal and first win in four matches, as we beat an Evesham United side, in what was an uninspiring game, but an important win, and three much-needed points.
Tomorrow’s hosts Sholing, are just one of two teams, we are still to play this season, Hanwell being the other. Last season, both games ended in draws. At Winklebury a Curtis Angell close range finish earned us a 1-1 draw. Then in March of this year, after taking an early lead through Jack Ball, we needed a James Clark penalty conversion, to give us a point in a worthy 2-2 draw.
Our Opponents
The Boatmen, were managed by Paul Doswell, who then moved upto Director of Football, appointing Ross White as his successor for this season. White, is a UEFA A licenced coach, after initially at QPR, he played a big role in the Aldershot Town academy, and then Sutton United’s U18 manager, before taking up the academy coaching role at Sholing, before taking on the Manager’s role.
After an impressive 1-0 win at Poole Town last week, Sholing now sit on the edge of the playoffs in sixth place, with a record of Pld 22 Won 10 Drawn 9 Lost 3 and 39pts. Their home record sits at 6 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss. Their leading goalscorer is the returning Michael Folivi, who was the club’s leading target-man last season, and leads the way with twelve goals this season (4 from penalty spot). Folivi, has played for Watford when they were in the Premier League, as well as other clubs like Wimbledon & Colchester, Chelmsford & Farnborough. Well-known midfielder Jake McCarthy has added eight goals since joining from Weymouth. McCarthy has had an extensive career at Step 1 & 2, and has also played for Poole Town & Havant & Waterlooville. Striker Daniel Mason, the younger of the two Masons at the club has five goals and is the clubs all-time goal-scoring leader. Young Vinnie Tume is back for a second season, after leaving Sutton Utd towards the end of last season. He has four foals on the season, and recently agreed a two-year deal to stay at the club.
Apart from McCarthy in midfield, they have long-serving Brad Targett, who has been at the club since the age of 16 and has played in numerous positions for the club, and more recently as an attacking wide player. Reece Wylie is a central midfielder, who joined from Hartley Wintney, having come through Aldershot, where he was spotted by Ross White, Paul Doss’s assistant. Blaise Roley-Snow, is a 27 year-old central midfielder, who rejoined the club for this season. He previously played for Hendon & Aveley, as well as Raith Rovers in Scotland. Jake Hesketh, at 27, has played in an UEFA Cup tie for Saints and has also played professional football at Burton Albion, MK Dons and Lincoln City. He then had a spell at Eastleigh, before signing for Sholing.
In defence they have Joe Rabbetts who is highly-rated left-sided player who joined from Dorking Wanderers. He has also had spells Aldershot Town and on loan at Bognor Regis Town. Byron Mason, the elder of the brothers, has previously captained the side over the 14 seasons he’s been at the club, but is regarded more as a squad player these days. They then added 33-year-old Dan Wishart, who has played for numerous step 2 clubs, as well as Forest Green Rovers in 2017. Harry Taylor is another player spotted by Ross White, and is back for another season. He was at Charlton Athletic, and also spent time in Canada. They have added ex-AFC Totton defender Sam Magri to the squad. Magri played 31 times for England’s U16 to U10 youth team, and has also spent time at Dover Athletic, Ebbsfleet United, and more recently Bracknell Town. In goal it was Craig King, but since the end of October, Declan McCarthy has taken over the role, having spent two seasons at Fareham Town.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
In what was a dour game to many Stoke fans, clearly not helped by a number of enforced changes due to ongoing injuries added by illness within the squad, we got back to winning ways, with that solitary goal against what was a poor Evesham side on the day. The three points earned by Billy Upton’s neat touch and volley home are all that matters as it ended our losing run, as we went into the Christmas break.
Basingstoke despite the win still sit in fifteenth place in the league, with our record now at Pld 21 Won 7 Drawn 3 Lost 11 and 24pts. Our away record is 2 wins, 2 draws and 6 losses. With a number of injuries, especially to our strikeforce, Manager Dan Brownlie has secured the asset of Reading U21 player Joe Barough (presumably on a loan deal), whilst Cheick Lysalla, gets closer to a return to the matchday squad. Depending on how we set-up, he is likely to start with Dan Rowe and Robbie Gallagher, whose second-half effort helped spark the win against Evesham. It is unclear on the fitness situations of George Reid & Ore Bello, but assume they will be absent tomorrow.
The midfield, who improved as the Evesham game went on, should see the important return of Josh Green, who missed out due to suspension. James Dickson, will likely be an option of the bench, as he returns from injury. This leaves Ben Cook, D’Andre Brown, potentially Connor Harris, if his loan deal is still in play, as good options. Connor Barratt played his first full ninety minutes of the season, and did well from his set-plays. It is assumed that Tom Blake is still out with his dislocated shoulder injury, from the Yate Town game in November.
The defence did its job, partially helped by Evesham who apart from the odd attack, looked pretty toothless going forwards. Our captain Billy Upton, again rose to the occasion, scoring that vital goal in the second-half, and he will once more lead the team out tomorrow. Scott Armsworth is likely to partner him in the middle once more, with Jack Ball still a week or so away from returning to the matchday squad. James Clark did an efficient job replacing Johnson-Schuster at right back, but could face opposition from Elliott Legg (out through illness last week). In the left back role will once more be Joe O’Loughlin. Simon Grant in his return last week, didn’t have much to do apart from making two good saves during the game.
In just under twenty-four hours-time, and we will need to be at our best, as we will face a tough Sholing side, who will look to keep on the tail of the playoff placed teams, and are unbeaten since that Bracknell loss, nine games ago.
Let’s go Stoke !
Match Preview by Martin French..
English 
Polish 