Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Uxbridge vs Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 11th October 2025 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Honeycroft, Horton Road, West Drayton, Middlesex. UB7 8HX
Uxbridge (The Reds), 2024-25 League Finish N/A Promoted
Following last Saturday’s FA Trophy win, we now face the first of three away games, out of our next four games, as we head to North-West London to take on newly promoted Uxbridge.
The last time we played Uxbridge, was in our Championship winning 2022-23 season. An Ezio Touray double gave us all three points in 2-1 win at Uxbridge, and then in March 2023, a first-half Brody Peart hat-trick, was just enough to do the double over Uxbridge in a 3-2 home win.
Our Opponents
The Reds are managed by Danny Edwards, who was previously at Chalfont St Peter for 15 seasons as manager. Oversaw the club’s promotion to step 4 and an FA Vase semi-final. Danny is in his 5th season at the helm at Uxbridge, having also previously worked at Chelsea FC and Southampton FC and is an UEFA A-Licence coach.
Uxbridge have started the season, as the draw specialists, with them sitting in 12th place with a record of Pld 9 Won 2 Drawn 6 Lost 1 and 12pts. Their home record sits at 2 Wins & 2 Draws from their four games at the Honeycroft. Their forward line, starts with ex-2024-25 Stokie Nnamdi Nwachuku, who joined in August and has three league goals. He is joined by Rio Connell, who played for Rayners Lane and Northwood last season and his goals for the latter were instrumental in helping The Wood keep their place at Step Four. He’s regarded as an exciting, tricky forward who can play down the middle or out wide. Another ex-well-liked Stokie is Dan Rowe, who played for Stoke in the 2023-24 season. He has one goal so far, and since leaving us 2024, has played for a number of clubs, the last being Kingstonian before joining the Reds. Note, he has not played in recent weeks.
Their midfield contains their leading goal-scorer Liam Prior-Tack, who has four goals (three from the penalty spot), joined in the summer having spent the last three seasons at Bracknell Town. His experience at step three will invaluable to the squad. His previous clubs include Binfield, Ascot United, Hanwell Town and Thame United. George Moore, has also added three goals from midfield and joined from Harrow Borough in 2023. Last season’s top scorer with 21-goals, which saw him pick up the Player of the year trophy. They also have ex-Hanwell Town captain Harry Rush, who has two league goals this season, after helping the Reds with promotion following his arrival in January. Joe Lawal is an attacking winger, who joined from Beaconsfield Town in the summer. He has previously played for clubs such as Slough, Kings Langley & Harrow Borough.
Their defence includes CJ Fearn, who joined in September 2024 from Farnborough. A commanding defender who has over ten years’ experience at Steps 2 & 3 of the football pyramid. Was a massive influence in Uxbridge gaining promotion with his defending and leadership qualities. At left back, will be Casey Bocarro, who has nailed down the spot after joining from Virginia Water. Tenacious defender who looks to get forward at every opportunity. Bernie Tanner, is a strong central defender whose experience at Step Three will be invaluable to The Reds, following his departure from Enfield Town, where he helped them secure a place in Step 2. At right-back, it could either be Cole Brown or ex-Stokie Kyle Hobbs. Brown, made his Reds debut as a 19-year-old in 2017, and has since rejoined the club from Chertsey Town. Regarded as an attack minded player, he has also represented Hayes & Yeading United, Hampton & Richmond Borough and Hendon. Hobbs, who last played for Stoke in the 2023-24, is also an option. Another ex-Stokie who also last played in the 23-24 season is Massimo Giamattei, but he has been an option off the bench in recent weeks.
In goal in recent games has been Laurie Shala, on loan from Wycombe Wanderers since September. The Kosovo Under-19 International was at Crystal Palace and West Ham United as a youth academy player. At the start of the season was well-known Mark Scott, who joined The Reds in the summer from Ascot United. Previous clubs of course include Basingstoke Town, plus Swindon Town, Oxford City, Slough Town and Bracknell Town.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Back to winning ways in the FA Trophy, we return to the league and an interesting game against a team that contains many ex-Stoke players from recent seasons. Our goal-scorers in that Trophy win against a competitive Shaftesbury side, were Billy Upton and then the winner from super-sub James Clark’s close range finish.
Our last league game out was the close loss at Gloucester, which leaves us in sixteenth, with a record of Pld 9 Won 2 Drawn 3 Lost 4 and 9pts. We are still to win on the road, with our record at 2 draws, and 2 losses. The expected forward-line will have the inclusion of new-signing Cheick Sylla, from Ascot United, and with the hopeful expectation that attacking winger George Reid, should also be part of the match-day squad, this leaves Manager Dan Brownlie, with a number of starting options to consider. If he starts with the current line-up of Liam Ferdinand, Robbie Gallagher & Bradley Wilson, then he has for the first time in a while, some proper attacking options off the bench if needed. After last Saturday’s super-sub intervention, James Clark is always an option here too.
Despite rumours of reinforcements in the midfield, unless a signing is confirmed today, then the starting midfield, will likely remain the same, with James Dickson & Josh Green, two of the starters, and then either Ben Cook or D’Andre Brown, as the third midfield starter. Connor Barratt is still likely to be an option off the bench.
The defence may potentially face two ex-Stoke forwards on Saturday, and thus should have some idea on how to keep them quiet, in a game that is likely to be very close. With this there appears no expectation to change the defensive line-up of Markus Johnson-Schuster on the right, our captain Billy Upton with Jack Ball in the centre, and Joe O’Loughlin on the left. Options include Scott Armsworth & Elliott Legg. Ben Jefford underwent surgery this week, and we wish him a speedy recovery. In goal will be the steady and reliable Simon Grant, who not only has been at the top of his game, but also inspires Stoke fans with his energy.
What is clear is that tomorrow’s game will see us potentially pit ourselves against a number of ex-Stoke players, who were let go, and thus will likely be looking to make a statement tomorrow.
We need to be the one’s making the statement!
Let’s Go Stoke !
Match Preview by Martin French..
English 
Polish 