Monday Morning Quarterback 2019-20 Season – Issue 16

Monday Morning Quarterback 2019-2010 Issue 16 Upon Further Review

Well if last week wasn’t bad enough then our loss at Cirencester topped that, as we simply handed the game to a team that for 45 minutes didn’t look like they could honestly break us down. Their new Manager John Brough clearly gave them a halftime bollocking, and it seemed to work, as we capitulated within the space of 20 minutes and from then on, we looked second best in tackles and commitment. Yet once more, we can’t win headers in our six yard area, and we were again made to pay for being unable to block any sort of cross from being delivered. They missed two headers in the first half, but either we don’t mark, jump or don’t run with attacking players, as the equaliser was yet another header that should have been prevented.

On another worrying note, and similar to last season’s relegation-bound season, is the inability to actually hold on to the ball when we are under pressure and clear the ball to the halfway-line. Wave after wave of attacks, seem to be unprevented, because we simply give the ball away far too easily.

I was asked half-a-dozen times at least yesterday, where Ben Wright was, but had to say I had no idea? It would be good to find what happened to him!

Checking the table, we are currently on course to concede a 100 goals in the league, and as we stand we have conceded 45 goals in just 17 games.

To end on a good note, Bradley Wilson has started to find the back of the net, and although his goal took a wicked deflection, a perfect header to create Claudio Herbert’s goal was perfect, and he was also unlucky with the shot that screamed just over the bar. If we had got that third goal before the break, would that have killed the spirit in the home side?

All I do know we are now further ensconced in a battle that does nothing for our financial position, as we fight to get to our new ground!

When I review the rest of the league, I have to take in various sources to actually find the truth, as the league website nowadays, is generally about as reliable as our defence and this week’s prime example was the game of the day, as first-placed Frome Town entertained second-placed Thatcham Town in Somerset. It was the league leaders who took advantage on 16 minutes after they were awarded a somewhat fortunate penalty. Alex Monks converted the penalty, and then added his and Frome’s second of the game just seven minutes later, after Thatcham’s Callum Wilmoth slipped in the muddy conditions, which allowed him to break and drill a low shot into the corner of the net. The game was all the home-side now and Frome missed several chances to extend the lead.

However, and not reported on the league website, was with 15 minutes to go, as another downpour of rain hit the pitch, the referee halted the game and after a quick discussion abandoned the game. The league website still shows the game as a 2-0 home win.

The weekends schedule was hit by postponements due to waterlogged pitches and five other games were cancelled that way.

However, in third are Paulton Rovers who took on Highworth Town at Winterfield Road. Paulton took an early lead through Marcus Day, but were pulled back on 15 mins by a Jacob Davidge strike. However, Rovers went back into the lead just after the half-hour and then added a third on 75 mins, through Ali Sen. Rovers win leap-frogged them over Winchester whos slipped to fifth as their game was hit by the weather.

In fourth are Evesham Utd, who did Stoke a favour by beating Barnstaple Town 0-2 on the road in Devon. Two first-half goals just after the half-hour were enough, with the second goal being scored by Lee Chilton, his 12th of the season.

The Top Five in Our League

The Division One South league goal-scoring chart.

Lee Chilton’s twelfth goal of the season has him on the shoulders of Ben Bament as we head into the final games of 2019 and halfway through the season.

At the bottom of the table, we have covered Barnstaple, so we turn to 18th placed AFC Totton, as it was goal’s a plenty at Slimbridge. Despite Totton taking a 1-2 lead on 15 minutes, as the Swans equalised just before halftime. Slimbridge then added two goals just after the hour and made it five on 75 mins, in a 5-2 victory.

Both Bideford and Sholing’s games were hit by the weather, so remain in the relegation battle.

No other games to report.

The Bottom Five in our League Now Looks Like This

Basingstoke Town Goal Scorers Chart (Two goals at Cirencester Saturday)

The next round of matches are scheduled for Boxing Day and as usual, it normally means local derbies are played to help with attendances and travelling.

Those games affecting us at the bottom are;

AFC Totton (18th) vs Sholing (16th)

Barnstaple Town (20th) vs Bideford AFC (17th)

Anyway, with this being the last one review before Christmas, I would just like to thank all those who read this weekly article and wish all Basingstoke fans a merry Christmas, and hope to see you all on Boxing Day at Winchester.