Monday Morning Quarterback 2019-2020 Season – Issue 12

Monday Morning Quarterback 2019-2010 Issue 12 Upon Further Review

Back at our temporary home, for the first time in a month, we hosted Bristol Manor Farm and yet again we gifted the opposition an early goal, as we allowed a player to seemingly find his way through three players, before Manor Farm found the back of the net. Still lots of possession in the first half and with more composed finishing we could have easily gone into the break level. However, within two minutes of the restart, more poor marking and a touch of bad luck (which happens to teams at the bottom), put us two goals behind and a vastly more difficult proposition to gain anything out of the game. We rode our luck at times, and were able to get back into the game with a stunning left-footed finish by Dean Stow, which brought the game close and with a bit of luck we could have got an equaliser. But then midfielder’s Jordan Edwards late second yellow card and a late goal by Manor Farm, left us with our third league loss in the row and leaves us stuck deeper into the relegation mire.

It was good to see Dan Brownlie sit and discuss the team situation with a small group of fans after the game and that clearly went down well with them.

Clearly he has a tough job ahead as we have some tough games coming up, starting at Frome Town next week.

To be honest they are all tough at the moment!!

Ok an update from last week’s article where I mentioned the ground grading issue at Willand Rovers last week. Well, I was contacted last Tuesday with some updated information that states that promoted teams (which Willand were), have a two year dispensation to get their ground to meet Grade D ground grading. I was also advised that a Willand official felt that they were not far off meeting the necessary grading. I agree that with some work you can add more covered seating and covered standing. But at the entrance end of the ground, it breaks many levels of the ground grading, as you can currently see in from the road, you have someone’s back garden or allotments that anybody can walk into and walk straight into the game. There is no proper fencing stopping anyone from entering that end of the ground.

Now Willand are a nice friendly club, but whilst we have been forced to move to a new ground and struggle to get Basron to put in the necessary work to get us to pass our ground grading, it just seems a little unjust.

Well as stated we face league leaders Frome Town next Saturday and they will head into the game, after being held to a 2-2 draw at Moneyfields. Frome took an early 2-0 lead within 15 minutes, Moneyfields were able to pull a goal back early in the second-half and then a super substitution with 5 minutes to go as forward Lamin Jatta entered the game and as the game slipped into injury-time he struck to earn a point.

With Frome’s slip-up, Thatcham Town move two points closer with a comfortable 2-4 win at fellow title chasers Evesham Utd. An early goal by striker Kyle Tooze, was then further added to by goals by George Jeacock and forward Felipe Barcelos within 25 mins put the cosh on the home side. A goal before halftime for Evesham, was then further added to 10 minutes before full-time, but then Thatcham’s cause was made easier as Evesham’s leading goal-scorer was given a straight red card and it was Kyle Tooze who notched the Blues fourth and his second of the game.

We have a new third placed team, as Paulton who had their FA Trophy match against Sholing postponed due to the weather, were overtaken by Winchester City who scored an amazing dramatic late goal to win 3-4 on the road at Cirencester. City led by the only goal ah halftime, then added a second on 55 mins by Robert Carr. The Centurions struck back with two goals by Toumani Sidibe in the space of 6 mins, then Carr added his second on 82 mins and this looked to be enough as the game went deep into injury-time. However, up stood Toumani Sidibe to complete his hat-trick on 93 mins sending the home fans into jubilation. However two minutes deeper into added time, Oliver Balmer’s free-kick found the net and sent the away fans home happy.

The Top Five in Our League

TEAM PLD WON DRAWN LOST PTS
Frome Town    16   10     5   1 35
Thatcham Town    12   10     2   0 32
Winchester City    12    8     2   2 26
Paulton Rovers    12    8     1   3 25
Evesham United    13    7     3   3 24

 

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
Felipe Barcelos Thatcham Town                9
Jack Ball Melksham Town                8
Jonathan Davies Frome Town                8
Simba Mlambo Winchester City                8
Andrew Lewis Cinderford Town                8
Lewis Powell Larkhall Athletic                8 ?
Kyle Tooze Thatcham Town                8

 

At the bottom of the table with us holding onto 18th place, according to the league website, Barnstaple were drawing 1-1 at home to Larkhall when the game was postponed. That seems a little strange as the game according to Barnstaple’s twitter page states that the game failed a 9am pitch inspection that morning, so it was highly unlikely that Lewis Powell and Scott Sharp were on the pitch when the league supposedly states their goals were scored!!

AFC Totton remain next to bottom after a 2-2 draw at fellow relegation battlers Melksham Town. The visitors held onto a one goal lead through a Mitchell Byrne finish until a 74th minute equaliser by Luke Ballinger. Totton then thought they had snatched all three points, when forward Silvano Obeng finished coolly, as he slotted the ball past the keeper into the net. But in this league, the game is never over as Joseph Romanski headed home from a 93rd minute corner, to share the points.

With Melksham’s point and Bideford idle this weekend, they switched places in the league. Willand after beating us last week then went on the road and left Slimbridge with all three points as forward Dean Stamp’s 24th minute goal was the only goal of the game.

The only other game played and which did not affect us was Mangotsfield’s goalless draw at home to Highworth Town.

The Bottom Five in our League

TEAM PLD WON DRAWN LOST PTS
Melksham Town    12              2     4   6  10
Bideford Town    11              3     1   7  10
Basingstoke Town    13              2     3   8   9
AFC Totton    12              2     2   8   8
Barnstaple Town    14              2     0  12   6

Basingstoke Town Goal Scorers Chart (Just Dean Stow’s stunner to add this week)

Name League Goals Cup Goals Total
Zach Robinson 3 3 6
Ben Wright 3 2 5
Dean Stow 3 0 3
Mikey Davis 2 0 2
Claudio Herbert 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

 

There are three games this week in the league this week, but Wednesday’s visit of AFC Totton to Highworth Town is the only game that affects us.

Whilst we travel to Frome Town next Saturday, the other games that will affect the bottom of the table are;

AFC Totton (19th) vs Evesham Utd

Bideford Town (17th) vs Cirencester Town

Highworth Town vs Barnstaple Town (20th)

Larkhall Athletic vs Melksham Town (16th)

Don’t forget we have a friendly at the Winklebury complex this Tuesday against Badshot Lea. All money taken on the gate will help the Community Club’s finances.

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