Monday Morning Quarterback 2020-21 Season – Issue 5

Monday Morning Quarterback 2020-21 – Issue 5

Back-to-back defeats is ideally not what any Basingstoke fans wants to see, and although there was plenty of effort, being honest we simply did not do enough on the day.

This was however, our first league defeat and against the league leaders and financially backed AFC Totton club. Totton will be there or thereabout at the end of the season, if we get to the May 2021?

Things did not help when we lost midfielder Lewis Hayden midway through the first half, as Lewis plays that holding midfielder role, whilst others like George Reid and Ben Cook are then able to then push forward.

It is hoped that Dunny will be in the starting line-up Tuesday, but would rather him be 100% than 75% and pick up another injury. I think we all love him for his tireless effort racing across the pitch form side-to side, but think he needs to take a second to look after himself a little more. After all that’s what we have in Ben Cook and Harrison Cliff, young energetic and fit midfielders who need to cut out the opposition who break on us.

Saturday’s referee was not the best, but probably no better or worse than the others we have seen this season. This time we played against a far more experienced team, who clearly kept to their game tactics of thwarting George Reid on the wings. Yes Reidy won numerous corners, but would assume Totton would be happy with that, rather than having to deal with cross after cross coming into the 6-yard box. From a corner they have time to set-up and defend their goalmouth.

AFC Totton simply took their chances on the day and with the help of the weather defended very well.

After Tuesday’s game against Mangotsfield, we will be visiting our friends 50 miles away Melksham Town. For those who have visited their ground, a number of you will have left with that feeling?

Footballing wise they currently sit in 18th place with just one win and five losses from six games, and have scored just five goals.

Looking at the results in our league, if we thought there were an abundance of goals in last season’s results, it is clear by some of the results in the past few games , that the average goal per game is likely to rise this season.

Looking at the results at the top of the table, Cirencester Town went on the road again and left Somerset with all three points after 1-2 win at Frome Town.

In third place now sit Slimbridge, who after losing 6-3 to us on the opening day, have turned things around and look to be a better team than what we saw for the second 45 minutes of our game. Last Saturday they went on the road and with a late winner left our Tuesday night opponents Mangotsfield with a 2-3 win. It appears their charge is partly due to the inclusion of Johan Flo, the son of Chelsea legend Tore Andre Flo, who has added four goals, within a team that has notched 21 goals on the season, although from 8 games.

Below us are Willand Rovers, who did what we couldn’t and that was to give Barnstaple a good thumping on their own pitch. Probably a lot easier for Rovers fans to get to the other side of Devon, but they left North Devon with a 2-8 result. What is amazing that the other 6 games they had only scored 6 goals in total. The scoring was even more amazing as Willand added goals on 85, 86, 90, and 90 minutes. Even Barnstaple’s own twitter page used the term ‘Dog Shit From Barum Today’.

The top of the table like this as we move into this week’s matches.

The Top Five in Our League

At the bottom of the table sit Mangotsfield, moving upwards sit Barnstaple (2pts), Melksham (3ps),  Moneyfields (3pts) and then Bideford (4pts).

The highest crowd last Saturday was our own game against AFC Totton with 400. Whilst the lowest was Highworth’s 1-0 victory against Winchester City with 128 fans.

Our Basingstoke Town Goal Scoring Chart continues to take shape and with 20 league goals this season from 5 games, it is striker George Hallahan who leads the way five, but with McCoy Palmer close behind him. Unfortunately the Cup goal chart will now remain as stated.

Ok there are currently seven games in our league this week including our game.

These games scheduled are;

Monday Night

Evesham Utd v Melksham Town

Tuesday night.

Barnstaple Town  v Paulton Rovers

Basingstoke Town v Mangotsfield Utd

Cinderford Town v Winchester City

Cirencester Town v Willand Rovers

Sholing v Frome Town

Wednesday Night

Larkhall Athletic v Thatcham Town

Hoping to see a full-house tomorrow night against Mangotsfield, and let’s hope we get back to winning ways.