Monday Morning Quarterback 2019-2010 Issue 11 Upon Further Review
Sitting in Willand’s clubhouse after the game, many fans were amazingly honest. Comments of the amount of wasted possession, to the irritable but good keeper who ran the game, to the poor crossing, the wasted chances, the lack of wanting to shoot and general poor defending were hot topics. Saturday, we simply didn’t adapt to the pitch conditions or the team we were playing, but despite all this the fans Saturday are still fully behind the young team and understand that this is the squad that will be here for the season and thus needs to be the one that gets us out of the current worrying position we are in.
One huge ongoing concern however, is that we still do not understand that we need to play the referee as much as the opposition in this league. The referees and linesman in this league will make plenty of mistakes, but quite simply like most teams we will face, we need to ensure the officials make those mistakes in our favour.
Saturday was a prime example, playing against a bigger older team, once they got the lead, the niggly little tackles, pushes, shoves off the ball, like when our player after a tackle on the ground, then got his head shoved back down towards the ground by a Willand player. The linesman saw it but did nothing, and only Ben Wright, who ran 20yds to the referee complained. The rest of our players just seemed to accept it.
We simply need to understand, that teams in this league, along with most managers, will do anything to win the game. Yes we can try and play our football, but we must simply get tougher in games and get in the face of the opposition and officials to get our fair due of calls. In life, if you don’t ask you don’t get and the same applies on the football pitch.
I was intending to tackle the issues of ground grading at clubs in this league, especially when we face massive issues with our old Owner who still states one thing then does the other with regards in helping us getting our new home to meet ground grading.
How Willand who break ground grading on numerous levels get away with it surprises me, they must have some form of dispensation to allow them to continue at this level. Therefore, I will be writing a separate article on it later this week.
We have a tough six weeks to Christmas, as we play a number of the teams at the top of the league, but then again, we have only picked up four points from a possible 15 against teams at the bottom, and that may come back to haunt us later this season.
Ok, turning to the top of the table in our league, we start with the match-of-the-day as leaders Frome Town entertained 3rd placed Paulton Rovers in what was also classed as a local derby as the grounds are just eleven miles apart. With the game scoreless in the first half, it took a Jonathan Davies finish on 65 mins to open the scoring. Despite Paulton hitting the bar late on, it was that man Davies who this time turned provider for Dan Cottle to tap home the second in injury-time. Frome’s 2-0 victory in front of one of the biggest crowds of the season (455) gives Frome a five point lead at the top.
In second still sits the unbeaten Thatcham Town, who took care of Mangotsfield 2-0 at home. Again another goal-less first half was then broken when centre-back fired home on 50mins. Ten minutes later the Blues added their second as a good passing move was finished by a chip by forward Felipe Barcelos.
Despite the loss, Paulton still sit in 3rd, but Evesham Utd moved within a point, after they went on the road to next week opponents Bristol Manor Farm, and came with all three points after a 0-3 win. An early 9th minute goal by Paul Sullivan, was all that separated the team until 2 goals by forward Lee Chilton on 70 & 88mins settled the game.
In 5th now sit Winchester City, who won their fourth game in a row, a narrow 3-2 victory at home against Slimbridge. City after taking an early lead then fell behind to two first half strikes by forward Soloman Wanjau-Smith. City then came roaring back, with strikes of their own by Robert Carr and Ik Hill.
The Top Five in Our League
TEAM | PLD | WON | DRAWN | LOST | PTS |
Frome Town | 15 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 34 |
Thatcham Town | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 29 |
Paulton Rovers | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 25 |
Evesham United | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 24 |
Winchester City | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 23 |
The Division One South league goal-scoring chart.
Ben Bament still remains well clear of the rest, but a brace by Evesham’s Lee Chilton, moves him into second place.
Player | Team | League Goals |
Ben Bament | Paulton Rovers | 12 |
Lee Chilton | Evesham Utd | 9 |
Jack Ball | Melksham Town | 8 |
Felipe Barcelos | Thatcham Town | 8 |
Jonathan Davies | Frome Town | 8 |
Simba Mlambo | Winchester City | 8 |
Andrew Lewis | Cinderford Town | 8 |
Rex Mannings | Frome Town | 7 |
Kyle Tooze | Thatcham Town | 6 |
At the bottom of the table with us falling to 18th, bottom-placed Barnstaple lost again, this time on the road 3-1 to lowly Sholing. The Barum did take the lead through Saddam Bello, but went into the half at 1-1. Then Sholing who moved clear from the relegation area, with this win added a second on 69 mins and a 94th minute goal via Stuart Green.
Bideford who are on a bad run, were due to host Melksham but due to a serious accident further up the M5 to us, Melksham were unable to get to he ground and thus the match had to be postponed. Bideford sit in 16th, whilst Melksham 17th.
The other game at the bottom saw 19th placed AFC Totton, despite a late fightback lost 3-4 at home to Cinderford Town. The visitors led 4-1 through a brace of goals for forwards Andrew Lewis and James Harding, before the Stags scored two late goals.
The Bottom Five in our League
TEAM | PLD | WON | DRAWN | LOST | PTS |
Bideford Town | 11 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 10 |
Melksham Town | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
Basingstoke Town | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 9 |
AFC Totton | 11 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 7 |
Barnstaple Town | 14 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 6 |
Basingstoke Town Goal Scorers Chart (Just Wright’s goal this week)
Name | League Goals | Cup Goals | Total |
Zach Robinson | 3 | 3 | 6 |
Ben Wright | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Claudio Herbert | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Mikey Davis | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Dean Stow | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Scott Armsworth | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Reece Rusher | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Adam Everiss | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Harrison Cliff | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Riccardo Andrady | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Ben Cook | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Own Goal | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Just two games which neither affect us in the league this week.
Saturday’s games that will affect the bottom of the table this week are;
Barnstaple Town (20th) vs Larkhall Athletic
Melksham Town (18th) vs AFC Totton (19th)
Still no date confirmed for the rearranged Thatcham Town home match yet, as Winchester City have home league matches on Tuesday 19th and 26th of this month.