Monday Morning Quarterback – Week 18 Upon Further Review

Monday Morning Quarterback –  Week 17 Upon Further Review

Some fans will say this was two points dropped, but personally I would go with the more positive one point gained. We have to take into account that we have already lost seven games at the Camrose this season and this Met Police team were the second highest scorers with 80 goals on the season.

Maybe Met Police were not at their best, but could that not be down to our team putting the breaks on them? We did the same to Swindon Supermarine?

I thought Harry Pearse and Michael Atkinson appeared to be doing the tough dirty work in midfield, allowing Deadfield a more open role. Neither Sam Smart who was kept in check for most of the game by Nesta Guinness-Walker, the best left back I’ve seen in the league this season, or Zidane Akers who showed flashes, but still not enough for some supporters, just didn’t create many chances during the game.

The defence coped better Saturday and dealt well with a lot of the crosses and a confident Chris Rackley kept Met Police’s Jack Mazzone & Max Blackmore at bay for most of the game. Adam Everiss seems to have settled into his left back role and showed he can play a more attacking role as well.

Still can’t believe the ref had the cheek to give two free-kicks inside a minute against Ben Wright! Ben did however create our first equaliser via his free-kick and then popped up to take a half-chance five minutes before the end and for once we didn’t concede a late goal.

Martin Kuhl’s match notes confirmed what I stated in last week’s MMQ post that the QPR pairing, well certainly Kraig Noel-McLeod is no longer at the club and with the other confirmed departees, we are sort of back to a reasonable sized playing squad, well that depends on the two Saturday signings. With them both being attacking players it can only be good for the club as we fight to stave off relegation. It was also good to see Kian Duncan back in the squad and if available next week, I would love to see him get some real game time.

At least we are catching our next opponents Wimborne Town at the best time, as thye have not won in their last five league games, a draw against Weymouth is the only point they have picked up out of a possible 15. Mind you we have only earned four points ourselves in that time frame.

Matches Around Our League

Weymouth remain two point clear at the top of the table, after an unconvincing 2-1 home win against Swindon Supermarine. In front of a good crowd of 858 the home team took the lead just before halftime through their winger Emmanuel Odubade. The Marine equalised through Stuart Fleetwood on 58 minutes, before Weymouth via another penalty on the hour converted by Brandon Goodship, regained the lead and despite reports of many Swindon chances held on to their lead.

Second-placed Taunton returned to winning ways and look certain for the playoffs as a first minute strike by their main man Andrew Neal in the first minute of the match was all that separated them and playoff hopefuls Poole Town in front of 801 fans. Poole Town still however sit in the final playoff spot, but only on goal-difference.

Met Police’s remained in 3rd placed despite their draw Saturday, after Salisbury failed to impress in their home draw against Chesham Utd. Chesham took the lead just after the half-hour through the impressive Bradley Clayton and held onto the lead until Chris Flood (yes that Chris Flood), equalised on 76 mins. The draw keeps the Whites one point behind the Old Bill, but also look certain for at least a playoff spot.

Kings Langley sit on the edge of the playoffs after a home 1-0 win against our next opponents Wimborne. Jermaine Howe’s strike on 54 minutes giving the Kings a realistic chance of a playoff place in front of a decent attendance of 297.

Ok, the top of the table looks like this;

TEAM PLD WON DRAWN LOST PTS
Weymouth 35 21 9 5 72
Taunton Town 36 21 7 8 70
Met Police 35 19 11 5 68
Salisbury 36 19 10 7 67
Poole Town 36 16 9 11 57

At one point on Saturday afternoon it looked like our 10 goals against Staines Town was going to be topped, as Merthyr (not unknown to thrashings in recent years), led 8-0 at halftime, but just one more goal on 50 minutes was all that the Welsh Boys could muster in the second-half. Forward Ian Traylor got a hat-trick inside 10 minutes (fastest ever league hat-trick?) and his 4th on just 12 minutes. Tom Meecham added the next two (18 & 24),  before Owain Jones (29 &38) added his brace of goals. The 9th goal was scored by Connor Young on 50 minutes.

Frome Town continued on their mini-revival with a 1-2 win at Harrow Borough. After trailing at halftime Frome equalised through Troy Simpson’s header on 55 mins before he added his second and the winner on 84 minutes. Despite their win they need to overcome at least two teams above them to escape the drop.

Gosport Borough remain in the last of the relegation spots as they were the losers in a 4-3 relegation match-up at Beaconsfield Town. Beaconsfield led 2-1 at halftime, but were pegged back on 52 mins by Ryan Pennery. However, two further goals on 70 & 72 mins were enough as a second by Tony Lee on 84 mins was not enough to earn a point.

Walton Casuals slipped to 19th after a 2-3 home loss to Dorchester Town. An 11th minute goal by Harry Kite gave the Magpies the lead before James Ewington back on loan at Walton (?) levelled on 17 mins. Antonio Diaz restored the visitors lead on 32 mins, before a dubious penalty, converted by Cole Brown on the stroke of halftime drew Walton level. However, just as the home side were looking for that point, up popped Antonio Diaz for his second goal on 93 mins to earn the victory and leave South-West London with all three points.

Hendon again failed to move clear of the relegation zone after they 0-2 at Hartley Wintney. Another foal by forward Mitchell Parker and the second by Michael Campbell on 52 mins were more than enough, and leave Hendon in 17th spot. Hartley move upto 9th place and secure of their place in the league next season.

The last game was by all accounts a 90 minute end-to-end goal-fest at Farnborough who beat the improving Tiverton Town 3-2.

Going forward I have now increased the relegation table to show the bottom five clubs, however if it continues to keep this close, I may need to add the bottom seven or eight;

TEAM PLD WON DRAWN LOST PTS
Basingstoke Town 36 12 6 18 42
Walton Casuals 36 11 9 16 42
Gosport Borough 36 12 4 20 40
Frome Town 35 11 3 21 36
Staines Town (R) 36 4 0 32 12

Basingstoke Town leading Goal Scorer Chart

With two goals against Met Police, the total stands at 66.

Sam Argent 12

Dean Stow 9

Sam Deadfield 7

Sam Smart 6

Harry Pearse 5

Ben Wright 5

Zidane Akers 4

Jack McKnight 4 (Eastleigh Town)

Ben Wright 4

Own Goals 3

Manny Williams 2 (Slough Town)

Dan Collier 2

Oliver Harris 2

Callum Bunting 2 (Departed)

Dan Bayliss 2

Shane Hollamby 1

Games This Week

Just two games in our league this week, but neither really affect those battling it out at the bottom.

Your MMQ – Martin French

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