Monday Morning Quarterback 2019-20 Season – Issue 15

Monday Morning Quarterback 2019-2010 Issue 15 Upon Further Review

Well the positive news didn’t last for long, as a game where we failed to take our chances and a lack of marking Evesham’s key players cost us all three points.

How Lee Chilton, was able to tap home two goals yesterday, with no defender within kicking space, astounded many on the train home Saturday night. The Evesham players seemed to get behind our back line time and time again and put in what seemed unchallenged cross after cross.

Keeper Freddie Gee for the second week pulled out a number of important saves, that kept us in the game and when we had that ten minute period in the second-half where we failed to take two chances, plus the unfortunate error by Ben Cook with eleven minutes to go, the result was then further compounded as another tap in with four minutes left put the final nail in the coffin saturday.

The starting line-up may not have been what Manager Dan Brownlie had planned at training in the week, and it was clear that a number of players in the squad didn’t travel to the game yesterday.

Claudio Herbert’s entrance on the hour certainly re-energised the team and he’ll clearly be looking for a starting role next week at Cirencester.

As for next week’s game, the Centurions will clearly be looking for revenge after our FA Trophy victory a couple of months ago, and they are clearly playing well, as they are on a three-game winning streak in the league. Something we currently just dream about.

Taking a look at the top of the table, Frome Town remain top, even though their game at Bristol Manor Farm was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

The surprise of the day was that the last remaining unbeaten league team, Thatcham Town, were beaten convincingly at home by Slimbridge 1-3. The Swans led at halftime through a Danny King finish on 35 mins. However, Thatcham came storming back at the start of the second-half and missed two chances before a Zac Westlake header from a corner levelled the game. But Slimbridge without a win in six games, retook the lead when Christien Turner tapped home from a corner and then a Ryan Beckinsale 40-yard lob from a cleared corner 8 minutes later, beat the keeper to double Slimbridge’s lead. Despite lots of pressure, Slimbridge returned to Devon with all three points.

In third now are Winchester City, as whilst Paulton Rovers were losing in the FA Trophy, City through a Jamie Barron hat-trick was more than enough to beat Willand Rovers, even though only 128 saw the game at the SimplyHealth Stadium!

With Paulton in fourth, Evesham remain in fifth after their win against us.

The Top Five in Our League

The Division One South league goal-scoring chart.

Lee Chilton’s brace against us, moved him up into 3^rd place in the table.

At the bottom of the table, it was no surprise that once more Barnstaple finished the day with another loss, this time a 2-1 loss on the road to our next week opponents Cirencester Town. Barnstaple actually led at the break through Mike Humphrey’s 26^th minute header. But two goals just past the hour mark, were in the end enough to beat the Barum.

Still sitting one place above is AFC Totton, who were idle this weekend, as their game was postponed due to Paulton Rovers FA Trophy match. Above them was Melksham Town, but they moved out of the relegation zone, when they came from behind to beat Mangotsfield at Oakfield Stadium. Trailing 0-1 they then equalised with 15 minutes to go behind ex-Field player Liam Monelle, then in added time, the referee who had already red carded a Field player after only six minutes then gave Melksham a penalty. The penalty slotted away by forward Jack Ball giving the home side all three points. In their place comes Bideford who fought out a goal-less draw to pick-up a point, at home to Highworth Town.

Above them now sit Sholing who were in the FA Trophy as they beat Paulton Rovers 1-2 on the road. Sholing also sat idle as they await their opponents in the FA Trophy. Sholing have played at least two games less than the teams below them.

The Bottom Five in our League Now Looks Like This

Basingstoke Town Goal Scorers Chart (Yesterday’s goal at Evesham was Jordan Edwards first goal of the season)

As of Sunday evening there are four games scheduled for this week. Two of those can affect our position, which both are on Tuesday. Firstly bottom-placed Barnstaple face a tough home match against Larkhall Athletic, then Bideford host Melksham Town. The other two games are Bristol Manor Farm’s visit to Cinderford on Tuesday, and on Wednesday evening Willand Rovers host Cirencester City.

Ok the last Saturday fixtures before Christmas sees the following key matches;

Barnstaple Town (20th) vs Evesham Utd

Sholing (16th) vs Bristol Manor Farm

Slimbridge vs AFC Totton (18th)

Winchester City vs Bideford AFC (17th)

One final note, is that I do hope clubs like Bideford, do have a decent local coach company that supports the club, as in a space of two weeks they have had to travel twice to Winchester for league matches, firstly just nine days ago to lose to us, and then this Saturday they face an even tougher prospect in Winchester City!