Monday Morning Quarterback 2019-20 Season – Issue 19

Monday Morning Quarterback 2019-2010 Issue 19 Upon Further Review

Well last week’s positivity soon disappeared, as we huffed and puffed for 90 minutes against the twelve players in black and a tinge of yellow yesterday.

Missed chances against an AFC Totton team, who have now gone four games without conceding a goal, clearly ruined the hard-work in midfield, on what was a very heavy energy sapping pitch.

I don’t need to remind those who were present, about the Stags first goal, as it looks like one of those non-stop TV repeat programmes. Whilst their second goal, a supposed foul was spotted by the only one that mattered the referee.

An early second-half clear-cut chance, should have halved the score, but after that despite the better possession, we were kept in check by a well organised defence.

Many of you questioned the referees refusal to change his top, from all sides of the ground, there were supporters who clearly made it known, the likeness in the referee and AFC Totton players, especially from behind was minimal.

We still have a lack of aerial presence in the oppositions penalty area, and fans still wonder why we pump balls in the air, when either no-one is the box in the first place or there is little or no chance of us winning that aerial challenge.

A win yesterday would have been such a huge boost, but it simply was not to be. This was our sixth home loss of the season, whatever home advantage it should be, that isn’t happening either.

Looking at the bottom of the table, there is now a gap starting to form between the bottom three clubs and those above, and that is the worry. Without a serious run of wins or games where we pick-up some points, the remaining 17 games for us, will be a battle for all concerned.

We are on our travels in three of our next four games, which see us play at Cinderford (9^th place), Highworth Town (12th), before coming home to play Mangotsfield Utd (11th), and then back on the road to Melksham Town who are now in 6th place.

Without a more consistent goal threat, then things start to look a little bleak. Yes Barnstaple have played two more games, and only the bottom place team, will take any part in any playoff match, and fortunately we beat them just nine days ago, but extra games only count if your picking up points from them.

Moving on to the games in the rest of our league and starting with league leaders Thatcham Town, who were surprisingly beaten at home 0-2, to the vastly improving Melksham Town, who are on the best run in the whole league, winning 8 games on the bounce. Forward Luke Ballinger got the opening goal with a well-timed finish.

First time strike on 7 minutes. Melksham doubled their lead midway through the second-half through an Albert Hopkins shot.

In second, Frome Town on a very heavy pitch, that surprised many that the game went ahead, closed the gap to four points after a close 2-1 home win against Cirencester Town. Frome took the lead just before halftime and then added a second early in the second-half through a penalty finish by Alex Monks, before the Centurions converted their own penalty, just after the hour. Goal-scorer Monks was then later handed a straight red-card for scything tackle on 75 minutes.

In third still sit Winchester City who went on the road to Highworth Town, coming away with a 1-3 win. The game tied 1-1 at halftime, was then put in City’s hands as Jamie Barron converted a 72 minute penalty, and made sure of the three points on 85 mins through Oliver Balmer.

Fourth played fifth, as Paulton Rovers hosted Larkhall Athletic, and although they shared the points, Rovers will know they threw two points away as they led 2-0 until the last few minutes of the match. Goals on 89 and then 90 minutes, clearly sent Athletic fans (all 3 of them probably), home happy after the 2-2 draw.

The Top Five in Our League

The Division One South league goal-scoring chart.

Two more goals for Slimbridge’s Soloman Wanjau-Smith, now has equal top of the chart with Ben Bament on 15 goals.

With Barnstaple’s game washed out due to the weather, and with our game covered, in 18th place now sits Moneyfields, who lost to a 92nd minute Daniel Mason penalty, his second goal of the game and the winner as Sholing won 2-1 at Mackoy Stadium. In what was a fractious match as 11 players were booked, Dan Mason had started the scoring on 9 minutes with a rocket of a shot, before Joseph Briggs for Moneyfields had levelled just after the hour. But it was Briggs who handled the ball that led to Sholing’s winner.

The other games that didn’t affect either top or bottom, are next hosts Cinderford Town, who took apart Evesham Utd on the road, scoring two goals in either half, in a 0-4 thrashing.

Bristol Manor Farm who had lost 6 of their last 7 games, were able to earn a late winner at the Creek, as they beat Bideford 2-1.

Mangotsfield Utd and Slimbridge battled to a 3-3 draw, where both United’s Daniel Demkiv and Slimbridge’s Soloman Wanjau-Smith both had a pair of goals.

Highest Crowd of the weekend was our game against AFC Totton with 267. Whilst just 96 were in attendance at the Sholing – Moneyfields game.

The Bottom Five in our League Now Looks Like This

Basingstoke Town Goal Scorers Chart (No change to the league table)

Ok, currently just two games in our league this week. The first is Tuesday’s match-up between our next Saturday’s hosts Cinderford Town, who face Bristol Manor Farm at the Causeway Ground. Then on Wednesday, we hope promotion playoff hopefuls Larkhall Athletic can do a favour by beating Moneyfields in Somerset.

Moving onto the important games at the bottom of the table that could affect us are;

AFC Totton (17th) vs Bristol Manor Farm

Cirencester Town vs Sholing (16th)

Moneyfields (18th) vs Paulton Rovers

Slimbridge vs Barnstaple Town (20th)