Match Preview: Metropolitan Police v Basingstoke Town Saturday 13th October 2018
Following last Saturday’s desperately disappointing last gasp loss to lowly Dorchester Town at the Camrose, we are back on the road, this time in South-West London as we visit our friends in Blue – The Metropolitan Police.
Whilst Basingstoke slipped to 7th place just outside the playoffs, free-scoring Met Police sit in 12th place with 12pts from 8 games this season with 3 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses. I say free-scoring, because in their last 9 league and FA Cup (oh yes by the way they are still in the FA Cup) matches, they have scored 2 goals on 4 occasions, 3 goals on 4 occasions and 4 goals once in their last league match when they stuffed promotion chasing Taunton 4 – 1 at Imber Court (their home ground).
However, when you have a high-powered offense, it means you are likely to ship goals as well, and they only have 2 clean sheets, which were back in August.
Most of the Blues goals come from their front two striker partnership of Jack Mazzone and Max Blackmore who have scored 9 and 5 goals respectively in the league and cup. They have also had midfielders Ethan Chislett chip in with five and John Gilbert with 3 goals each.
As for ourselves, I am hearing rumours that following back-to-back league defeats Jason Bristow is looking to change the formation this coming Saturday.
From the Dorchester game we had a couple of players (Harry Philby and Zidane Akers) who hobbled off with injuries and with a number of other knocks the squad maybe a version of Casualty.
It was good to see Deadfield on the pitch last Saturday and we will need him at his top of his game if we are to come away from Imber Court with any points.
Jack McKnight continues to be the main goal-scoring threat and has set an example that others need to follow.
Sam Smart has been off his game recently and I’m hoping he can turn it round this weekend. Charlie Kennedy’s ankle injury has prevented him from playing the last couple of games, but I’m hoping he can make the starting 11 as we need his bite in midfield alongside Dan Collier.
If Jason is to change the formation and decides to start with two-up front, I believe we need to give Callum Bunting the chance to get back on track where he ended last season’s form.
I can now confirm that whilst writing this preview, Met Police have been successful in their FA Cup replay at home to Tiverton coming out 1-0 winners and thus progress to the FA Cup 4th qualifying round. The Cup is still at this stage regionalised between the North and South, and Met Police will now host National League Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday 20th October, with the winners of this match taking away a cool £25,000.
Odds please on Friday and will hopefully update the injury status on Friday then.
A clean sheet would be great and 3pts even better, but this will be a tough ask.
One thing is possible, that we may out number their fans, so let’s get behind our team this Saturday.
Match Preview by Martin French..
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