Monday Morning Quarterback – Week 7 New Year Edition

Monday Morning Quarterback –  Week 7 (New Year Edition) – Upon Further Review

Ok since last week’s report, we have lost back-to-back games on the road by the same scoreline 3-2 and within reason we have dominated both games but allowed them to slip away into defeat.

This now leaves us petering above the relegation zone in 17^th place.

Both games included our superb dead-ball magician Dean Stow, adding goals from free-kicks in both games.

The Gosport game included good performances by left-footed touch players Sam Deadfield & Harry Pearse.

Whilst the Beaconsfield Town game was more of an overall performance that was yet again wasted by poor defence. A lot has been spoken about the lack of certain players not chasing back and tackling. Martin Kuhl will no doubt be aware of these issues and will be concerned that this seems to be a weekly habit.

Martin Kuhl either by choice or by pure need continues to play Charlie Kennedy in one of the centre back roles and think we simply miss his toughness and aggression in midfield. This is not to say Dan Collier does his job, it’s simply your hard man is probably better suited in front of the back four.

Our Farnborough home match on New Year’s Day is now of even more importance. If results don’t go our way we could be sitting in a relegation place, which is simply unacceptable with the talent in this team.

Ok, what happened in the games in our league last Saturday, as there was almost a full schedule of matches.

Starting at the top as usual, 1^st place Taunton Town hosted 2^nd placed Weymouth and fought out a 3-3 draw in front of 1461 fans. Taunton took an early lead, but then fell behind inside 20 mins before the home team tied it before halftime. Andrew Neal then got his second for Taunton at the start of the 2^nd half, before a penalty converted by Emmanuel Odubade gave Weymouth the draw.

Taunton maintain their 7pt lead at the top of the table.

Third placed Salisbury dropped two points at Poole Town, after conceding a 94^th minute goal in a 2-2 draw. Again an above average crowd of 623 watched the match.

Harrow Borough remained in 4^th place on goal difference despite losing 3-4 at home to Kings Langley. The Kings took an early 3-goal lead, and added a 4^th to lead 1-4 at halftime. Ryan Moss & Ryan Haugh added goals for Harrow in the second-half but could not find the equaliser.

The Metropolitan Police remained in 5^th place after only managing a 1-1 draw at Chesham Utd. Met Police’s forward Max Blackmore cancelled out a Bradley Clayton goal for Chesham Utd.

Ok, the top of the table looks like this;

We have already covered Chesham’s home draw against Met Police who remain in the relegation places.

Bottom-placed Staines Town, lost on the road (yet again), to an early 4^th minute goal by Seth Owens at Farnborough.

Frome Town’s revival was halted as they lost at home to Tiverton Town 1-3. Tiverton took control of the match, scoring 3 times in the first 25 minutes of the second-half. Frome’s only reply was a 88^th minute goal by Kris Scott. Frome remain in 21^st place.

Dorchester Town and Wimborne Town played out a 1-1 draw, with both goals coming in the first half. Wimborne sit behind Basingstoke on goal difference, whilst Dorchester are just a point behind.

Swindon Supermarine continued on their recent good run of form with another fine home performance beating Merthyr Town 3-0. An above average crowd of 297 saw their goal wonder Conor McDonagh add two more goals before Stuart Fleetwood added their final goal. Swindon now sit in 10^th place.

The final match saw Gosport Borough continue on their good home form at Privett Park, as they beat Hartley Wintney, as George Barker scored the only goal on 44minutes.

The bottom 3 relegation places now look like this;

Basingstoke Town leading Goal Scorer Chart

Ok to end the year here is the list of our own clubs league goal-scorers; 37 in total.

Sam Argent  7

Dean Stow 7

Sam Deadfield 6

Jack McKnight 4 (Eastleigh Town)

Dan Collier 2

Zidane Akers 2

Sam Smart 2

Callum Bunting 2 (Departed)

Dan Bayliss 1

Ben Wright 1

Shane Hollamby 1

Harry Pearse 1

Own Goals 1

Also I’m glad Jack McKnight is getting a proper start at Eastleigh, as he started for them in last Saturday’s game against Ebbsfleet Utd

Ok just to wish all readers a Happy New Year and let’s hope we can turn around our league in 2019.

Your MMQ – Martin French