Monday Morning Quarterback – Week 13 Upon Further Review

Monday Morning Quarterback – Week 13 Upon Further Review
Well with numerous changes, one which was unwelcome and another the loss of Manny Williams back to Slough Town, we entered Saturday afternoon’s game at the Camrose with some anxious feelings of a tough match-up against Kings Langley. However our feelings were dispelled as we put in another solid all-round team performance on the day. An early chance from Sammie Argent was wasted, but he made amends nodding home into a wide-open goal after good work from Harry Pearse on 19 mins. Despite good chances by Kings Langley due to good saves by McGill, we then took the game over as we doubled our lead on 40 minutes after good work by Collier, and a neat move by Deadfield, Argent and a quality finish by Pearse.
The second half saw us on the front foot for most of it and we hit the post twice before adding a 3rd goal on 83 mins by another impressive performance by Sam Smart. Sam also had time to hit the woodwork before the game ended 3-0 and another 3 points in the bag. This confirmed our 13th place in the league and with other results going our way, we have a little breathing space away from the relegation zone, but further wins will be needed over the 5 weeks if we are to confirm our league position.
With all the unfortunate events that have been flying around our club, social media and now across clubs in Hampshire, it would be wrong for me not to comment. Until I was told Saturday lunchtime of Mr Downes past at the club, I knew nothing of the case. However, if the club thought that this signing would sit well with a large number of differing supporters across our fan base, then they were sadly mistaken. As we attempt to move to be come a Community Club, this was a bad choice and the Community Club have incorrectly taken some of the blame for this. I am hoping that the Football Club after taking the weekend will re-consider their position and release Mr Downes back to Thatcham Town.
Manny Update
It is now clear and confirmed by Neil Baker from Slough’s management team, that he will be staying at Slough for some time if not the rest of the season. The money that was superbly raised by the small group of Supporters, will be refunded and I thank David Knight for confirming this.
Matches Around Our League
Ok with a full schedule of matches in our league this weekend, we start with the biggest game on the day, as a double sized attendance of 300, turned up at the Imber Sports Ground to watch 2nd placed Salisbury’s visit to take on 3rd placed Met Police. The Old Bill took the lead just before halftime as their leading goal-scorer Jack Mazzone found the net. The second half got underway with and the game was quickly tied up by a goal by Jack Sparkes. Mazzone got his second goal of the game on 67 mins with a penalty and the Police looked like they were going to earn all three points until forward Aaron Dawson equalised on 90 minutes. The draw puts them both down a place in the table.
They were both replaced by Weymouth who moved into 2nd place as they travelled to lowly Walton Casuals and took an early 4th minute lead. However, this was pegged back 5 mins later by the Casuals leading goal-scorer James Ewington. The game stayed tied until Weymouth’s Brandon Goodship got the winner with 20minutes left.
However, still at the top is Taunton Town who eked out 1 -2 at Beaconsfield Town. The Stags took the lead just after halftime, but goals by Daniel Sullivan on 62 mins and a late winner on 86 minutes by Edward Palmer gave Taunton all 3 points and a six-point lead at the top of the table.
In the 5th and final playoff spot sits Poole Town who had a comfortable 3-0 home win against relegation placed Frome Town. Two more goals by Jake Scrimshaw and one by Samuel House have given the them a six-point gap between 6th place Harrow Borough who again slipped up as they were thumped 4-1 at Farnborough.

Ok, the top of the table looks like this;

At the bottom of the table Gosport Borough like us continued on their pull away from the relegation zone after a 2-1 home win against Swindon Supermarine at Privett Park. The win put them upto 16th place.
Dorchester Town were the latest team to have the pleasure of playing Staines Town. The Magpies put six past the Swans in a 6-1 victory. A hat-trick by Anthony Diaz and goals by Seymour, Gillespie and Morris accounted for their goals and move them upto 15th in the table.
Our opponents tomorrow night Chesham Utd were held to a 2-2 draw against Hartley Wintney. Chesham remain in the final relegation place but are just one point behind the Row who sit in 17th place following the draw.
The last team to cover at the bottom is Tiverton Town who lost at home 0-3 to the improving Wimborne Town. Two more goals for their leading goal-scorer Tobias Holmes and a 80th minute goal by Curtis Young were more than enough to push yet another team called the Magpies into 10th place. Tiverton now sit in 18th place and have just picked up just 2 points from their last five matches.

In the relegation places none of the bottom three played, therefore the table remains as shown;

Basingstoke Town leading Goal Scorer Chart
With another 3 goals Saturday we have 59 on the season and Sam Argent added to his goal tally. Will he hit 20 on the season in the league?
Sam Argent 11
Dean Stow 9
Sam Deadfield 7
Sam Smart 6
Harry Pearse 4
Jack McKnight 4 (Eastleigh Town)
Ben Wright 3
Zidane Akers 3
Manny Williams 2 (Slough Town)
Dan Collier 2
Oliver Harris 2
Own Goals 2
Callum Bunting 2 (Departed)
Dan Bayliss 1
Shane Hollamby 1

Games This Week
There are four games including ours in the league this week, but two of them could affect our league position this week.
These are;
Hartley Wintney (17th) vs Walton Casuals (19th)
Staines Town (22nd) vs Tiverton Town (18th)

Your MMQ – Martin French