Monday Morning Quarterback 2019-20 Season – Issue 10

Monday Morning Quarterback 2019-2010 Issue 10 Upon Further Review

Being perfectly honest, I am glad there wasn’t a game this weekend, as the weather was again pretty atrocious and any hopes of a game at Winchester would have been ruled out on Friday.

With no game mid-week, just two bits of news out of the club. Firstly, was the unfortunate, but expected recall of loanee striker Zach Robinson back to AFC Wimbledon. Zach, started his campaign slowly at the home loss to Moneyfields in the Hants Snr Cup. At that stage I was wondering if we had signed another player who had just come to us because he couldn’t get a game elsewhere. In fact it wasn’t till his fifth game for us, before he broke his deadlock as he struck twice in that cup win at North Leigh. Zach, then went onto play a further five games adding four further goals, the last being the brace of goals at Paulton Rovers. Like many others, it will be sad to see him go and I personally wish him all the best.

Secondly, was the news that without a first team for two weeks, that we had arranged a friendly at our future new home this Tuesday evening against our rivals Farnborough. Just to confirm that ground grading does not apply to friendly matches.

So with no game to discuss and review let’s look at our remaining games in November.

Saturday 16th Away to Willand Rovers, a tiny village in Devon who sit in 18th place. With just two wins (both at home), they have just scored 8 goals from ten games. A must not lose ticket for this game.

Saturday 23rd Home to Bristol Manor Farm, unbeaten in their last four games (3 wins and a draw), they will travel to us expecting to win.

Saturday 30th Away to Frome Town, The Robins will more than likely be top of the table when we meet them, and will be a lot tougher than expected, although we have a decent record on their pitch in recent years.

On a more important note, is with Robinson’s departure, and if Alfie Saunders has/does return to Forest Green Rovers, plus with the other loanee, defender Reuben Collins currently injured, we will be back to current squad of players.

What does this actually mean, well Captain Dean Stow, will likely slip to right back, whilst the centre-back partnership could well be Scott Armsworth and Ryan Suckling, with Adam Everiss filling the left back slot. In midfield we will be unchanged, however up front we have just Ben Wright & Mikey Davis as the only out-and-out strikers.

Rumours of another forward being brought are still to materialize, but must clearly be the number one priority.

In the league since the previous Saturday, there were no mid-week games, and just four games last Saturday, due to the weather and FA Trophy matches.

One of those matches was top-of-the-table Frome Town’s visit to bottom-placed Barnstaple Town. Frome took an early 9th minute lead behind a strike by forward Kane Simpson and although the Barum kept in the game, a goal by Marcus Mapstone, with 20 minutes remaining, put the game away and increased Frome’s lead to five points at the top. However, they have now played four more games than second-placed Thatcham Town who took a five-nil beating at Enfield Town in the FA Trophy.

In 3rd remain Paulton Rovers, whose home against our next week opponents Willand Rovers fell foul to the weather.

4th placed Evesham Utd, were held to a 2-2 draw at home against Highworth Town. Falling behind to a 31^st minute Ryan Morgan goal, Evesham took the game to Highworth in the second-half and equalised via a goal by Lee Chilton and then took the lead on Kai Tongue’s finish on 72 mins. But the Worthians took home a point after Jacob Davidge, converted a 75th minute penalty.

Slimbridge remain in 5th after their home game against Larkhall was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Top Five in Our League

The Division One South league goal-scoring chart.

With just one goal added by Evesham’s Lee Chilton, the scoring chart remains basically the same.

With Barnstaple’s loss to Frome already covered, Willand’s game postponed, both AFC Totton (lost 6-3) at Yate Town and Melksham succumbed to Gosport Borough 4-2 in the FA Trophy.

The only other game in our league was Mangotsfield’s 4-2 home win against Bideford. The Field took a 3-0 early second-half lead but although the Robins fought back, it was a little too late and Bideford now sit in 14th place just a point above the bottom five clubs.

We still sit in 16th place, so we really do need a win at Willand to move away from the bottom five.

The Bottom Five in our League

Basingstoke Town Goal Scorers Chart (No Change this week)

There are currently no games scheduled for this week, leaving us to look ahead at our game down in Devon against Willand Rovers. The other games that will affect us at the bottom of the table, of course weather permitting?

AFC Totton (19th) vs Cinderford Town

Bideford vs Melksham Town (17th)

Sholing (15th) vs Barnstaple Town (20th)

That’s it for this week and the Willand Rovers match preview will be later this week and a big game for Dan Brownlie and the squad.