Monday Morning Quarterback (Late) – Week 10 Upon Further Review

Monday Morning Quarterback –  Week 10 Upon Further Review

Starting off with our loss in Wales against a Merthyr team who we kept in check for most of the game.

To be honest it wasn’t the most entertaining of games, as they were also able to comfortably repel any real threats we threw at them.

Thought Liam Hunt and Dan Collier put in good shifts on the 3g pitch and it is quite clear that the style of football you have to play on that surface is different than on a grass pitch. Despite all the improvements on these type of pitches, the ball still bounces higher and a players ball control is put to the test. Those punts over the top for a speedy forward or winger to chase aren’t ideal on these surfaces, but are becoming a financial must for some clubs in non-league football nowadays.

We still have an amazing 18 games still to get us out of this mess, and in the past two season’s it’s around this time that we have start turning performances around. We will need that even more than previous years if we are to pull clear, as many have stated there are a number of teams within two wins of a relegation spot.

We can do ourselves a big favour if we can come away from Chesham with at least a point.

Whilst we were making our way back from Wales, I took a quick look at the rest of our league results, and as usual you can always find one or two strange or unexpected scorelines.

Taunton Town continued on their winning ways with a 3-2 home win against lowly Gosport Borough. Boro took the lead in the first minute but went into the break with a 2-1 lead before extending the lead on 66 mins from an Oliver Chamberlain goal, before a consolation goal, a penalty in the 93 minute by Gosport’s leading goalscorer Ryan Pennery.

In second is still Met Police as they kept up their promotion push with a 0-3 win at our relegation placed From Town. Goalless at halftime, the Old Bill came roaring out with blue flashing lights and scored within a minute behind an Oliver Robinson goal. A further goal, a penalty on 51 mins by their goalscorer Jack Mazzone and a 3^rd by Max Blackmore were enough to keep them  More goals by their leading scorers   six points behinds but with two games in hand.

In third still sit Salisbury who came from behind to win an entertaining match 3-4 at Hartley Wintney. A brace by Lewis Benson and a winner on 78 mins by Daniel Fitchett helped the Whites remain just one point behind the Met Police. In front of 727 Weymouth remained in 4^th place, dropped two points, after they gave away a 94^th  minute penalty, in a 2-2 draw at home to the improving Kings Langley. Brandon Goodship added to his tally and now has 19 on the season.

In the last playoff place still sits Harrow Borough who have now lost three on the bounce, this time 1-3 at home to the impressive Swindon Supermarine. The Marine sit in 7^th place and Conor McDonagh scored again and remains the league’s leading goal-scorer.

Ok, the top of the table looks like this;

So at the bottom of the table, both team either side of us in the table Frome and Gosport I have already mentioned lost. Above Gosport sit our Tuesday opponents Chesham and above them are Dorchester. The Magpies played Chesham Saturday and were held to a goalless draw.

Bottom place Staines lost again, this time at home to Wimborne Town 2-4. The Magpies (yes another team called the Magpies), had to come from 2-1 behind to win the match. Staines stay rooted to the bottom and look certain for the drop.

There were two final matches in our league, which Hendon, yes Hendon halted their losing streak with a 2-2 draw at home to Tiverton Town. Hendon did actually throw away a 2-0 halftime lead though. The last game was Farnborough who continue on their way up the top after they beat Beaconsfield at home 2-0, with both goals scored by Kurtis Cumberbatch.

The bottom 3 relegation places now look like this;

Basingstoke Town leading Goal Scorer Chart

No change from last week’s table. 42 goals in total.

Dean Stow 8

Sam Argent  8

Sam Deadfield 6

Jack McKnight 4 (Eastleigh Town)

Sam Smart 3

Dan Collier 2

Zidane Akers 2

Harry Pearse 2

Ben Wright 2

Callum Bunting 2 (Departed)

Dan Bayliss 1

Shane Hollamby 1

Own Goals 1

Five matches including ours in the league tomorrow night.

Your MMQ – Martin French