Monday Morning Quarterback 2019-20 Season – Issue 21

Monday Morning Quarterback 2019-2020 Issue 21 Upon Further Review

Well if my match report yesterday was short, then today’s review is of a more depressing one.

And yesterday was a very depressing day all-round.

Against a team who were on a poor-run of form, we yet again gave away an early goal and a tap-in for an unmarked forward. Does our defence track the player they are supposed to mark?

First-half our passing even on what was a heavy pitch and with the strong wind, was still poor, it looked like our players don’t look up and see the easy pass sometimes, then lose possession because we try the more difficult option.

Again we made the same basic errors at the back, and another keeper howler, that kicked us in the teeth, when we were in the lead and on top, and this allowed Highworth back into the game.

Defensively we get turned to easily and the lack of pace at the back kills us every week.

Many fans favourite George Hallahan, helped change the game at the start of the second-half, and there was a much more determined spirit once we got the equaliser, and then the lead, At that stage we looked the much better team and the confidence in the players rose as Highworth struggled to deal with us, but the game changed again following that second error.

After the game, many fans were asking where Freddie Gee was, and why he was not starting. They have seen very little in Aaron Watkins and what was promised on his arrival.

There is still plenty of time to turn this around and we have some very winnable games still to come, but Saturday was one of them and we saw how that ended up.

Our next four games are Mangotsfield Utd (H), Melksham Town (A), Moneyfields (H) and Paulton Rovers (H). What would you hope, or be happy to get from these four games, pointwise?

Finally, I just wonder who is doing the ground grading at clubs. Highworth although a nice well run club, state that their ground capacity is 1,500. Sorry, but a three-sided ground with very little room behind the other side and behind the far goal, it seems to be a little optimistic that you could get 1,500 in that ground. That’s not to say there will ever be need or desire to get that many people in the ground anyway!

Well, a strange weekend at the top, as three of the top five lost and maybe I spoke too soon about Thatcham Town running away with the title as they were shocked at home to Bristol Manor Farm. After a goal-less first-half, Manor Farm struck twice, the second a huge goal-keeping error, with Thatcham’s only reply a 94th minute penalty conversion by Kyle Tooze.

Second-placed Frome Town closed the gap behind a Jonathan Davies hat-trick in a 3-0 win at home to AFC Totton.

In third sits Larkhall Athletic, despite a 1-0 loss at Willand Rovers. Rovers since beating us in November and have won 7 of their last ten league games.

Winchester City stay in fourth on goal difference over Melksham as City lost at home again, this time to Sholing 0-1, so I assume Sholing love coming to play on the Simplyhealth ground.

Melksham won at home again, after trailing to Cinderford by a solitary goal at the break, as three second-half goals secured a 3-1 win and all three points.

The Top Five in Our League

TEAM PLD WON DRAWN LOST PTS
Thatcham Town    23   16     4   3 52
Frome Town    24   15     5   4 50
Larkhall Athletic    23   12     6   5 42
Winchester City    22   12     5   5 41
Melksham Town    23   12     5   6 41

 

The Division One South league goal-scoring chart.

A goal a piece by Kyle Tooze and Lee Chilton, as they chase Slimbridge’s Soloman Wanjau-Smith.

 

Player Team League Goals
Soloman Wanjau-Smith Slimbridge AFC                17
Ben Bament Paulton Rovers                15
Kyle Tooze Thatcham Town                15
Lee Chilton Evesham Utd                15
Lewis Powell Larkhall Athletic                14
Luke Ballinger Melksham Town                14
Felipe Barcelos Thatcham Town                13
Daniel Demkiv Mangotsfield Utd                13

 

At the bottom there is now a clear gap between us and Barnstaple Town and the teams above, following Moneyfields 5-2 win at home to Barnstaple Town. Moneyfields goals came via a Stephen Hutchings hat-trick and a brace for Joseph Briggs. Two late consolation goals were all that the Barum could muster.

There were three other games that don’t trouble either the top or bottom of the table, starting with Bideford’s 4-1 home thrashing against Slimbridge. In a day of hat-tricks, Ryan Turner added the last three goals of the game.

Paulton Rovers lost at home again, this time to a 77th minute William Tunnicliff finish that gave Cirencester Town all three points. Lastly our next week opponents Mangotsfield came unstuck 3-5 at home to Evesham. Mangotsfield were able to draw level twice before Evesham finally secured all three points with two late goals.

Highest Crowd of the weekend was Melksham’s game against Cinderford Town with 407. Whilst there were two matches that didn’t even manage three figures, as Moneyfields (74), were pipped to the lowest crowd by Paulton Rovers with just 73 against Cirencester Town!

The Bottom Five in our League Now Looks Like This

TEAM PLD          WON DRAWN LOST PTS
Bideford    24              7     6  11  27
AFC Totton    22              6     5  11  23
Moneyfields    21              5     6  10  21
Barnstaple Town    25              5     0  20  15
Basingstoke Town    22              4     3  15  14*

* Point deducted for illegal player.

Basingstoke Town Goal Scorers Chart (Well George Hallahan leaps up the table after just 45 minutes of play.)

Name League Goals Cup Goals Total
Ben Wright 5 2 7
Zach Robinson * 3 3 6
Dean Stow 5 0 5
Claudio Herbert 3 0 3
Bradley Wilson 3 0 3
George Hallahan 2 0 2
Mikey Davis 2 0 2
Scott Armsworth 1 1 2
Own Goals 2 0 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
Jordan Edwards* 1 0 1

* Players no longer with the club

Ok, currently there are five league games in the league this week, with four games on Tuesday night, which is headlined by the top of the table clash as 2nd placed Frome Town host 1st placed Thatcham Town. Also on the Tuesday bill is Paulton Rovers visit to AFC Totton, Bristol Manor Farm’s visit to Sholing and Winchester City who host Highworth Town.

Then on Wednesday Larkhall Athletic will look to get back to winning ways as they host Cinderford Town.

Moving onto the only other important game of the weekend is

Barnstaple Town (19th) vs Paulton Rovers

 

 

 

SHARE

1 COMMENT

  1. Martin, Situation looking bleak att. Difficult road ahead, we need a settled side and it must be frustrating for Dan B to motivate the players. For ever an optimist be I, just need max points from next home games.

LEAVE A REPLY