Match Preview: Southern League Premier Division South
Poole Town vs Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 15th August 2026 Kick-off 3pm
Black & Gold Stadium, School Lane, Poole. BH15 3JR
Poole Town (The Dolphins), 2025-26 Final League Position 4th
Well two games into our season, and two defeats, maybe not the ideal start, however there have been signs of good play in both games, but as yet not for a ninety-minute period.
After our defeat at Hanwell, we head back out on the road down to Dorset, to take on a team that there is no love lost between each other in Poole Town.
Last season the Dolphins did the double over us winning 1-0 in Dorset in November, then 2-1 in a highly charged game at Winklebury in February.
Our Opponents
Poole Town, continue to be jointly managed by Joe Lea & Pat Suraci. Both had decent playing careers, and became joint Managers initially at Petersfield Town, then Gosport Borough, before taking over the Dolphins nearly two seasons ago.
The Dolphins one their opening game defeating newly-promoted Chichester City 1-0 on the road, they then lost at home to Sholing 1-0 on Tuesday evening. Poole finished last season in fourth place with a record of Pld 42 Won 21 Drawn 12 Lost 9 and 75pts. They then lost 3-2 to Gloucester City in the playoffs.
Last year’s leading goal-scorer Shaquille Gwengwe, is now gone, which leaves ex-Stoke player Ezio Touray, as one of their main strikers. They have added well-known, Poole-born, Brandon Goodship. Goodship, has played for the like of Yeovil, Braintree, Southend, Salisbury and a number of spells at Weymouth, where he won back-to-back Southern League Premier South Golden Boot awards. Attacking winger Ik Hill, is in the second of a two-year deal, after joining from Winchester City, where he started his career.
In midfield, they have Antonio Diaz, whose in his second season with the Dolphins after signing from Gosport Borough. Harvey Slade is a 6’4 box to box midfielder who provides aerial threat, having started his career at Bashley, then on loan at Weymouth during 2023/24 joining the Dolphins in the 2024/25 campaign. Billy Lowes, started his career at Poole as a 17-year-old, before spending time at AFC Totton and then five years at Dorchester. Like others in this team, he was picked up whilst playing at Bashley. Charlie Davis (28), joined after impressing at Sholing, and started at AFC Bournemouth, and then spells at local sides Weymouth & Dorchester. Henry Spalding, joined Poole at the start of this season, having played over 200 games for Swindon Supermarine over a number of stints in his career. He has also spent time at Gosport Borough. Selim Saied joined the Dolphins last season from National League South Farnborough, and made 44 appearances and finished the campaign on an impressive six goals and eight assists. They also recently well-known Bradley Tarbuck who had been at Gosport Borough since 2021. He started his career at his boyhood club Portsmouth, making two appearances for them before leaving in 2015 to join Havant & Waterlooville. to their ranks.
The Dolphins are likely to be captained by ex-Gosport Joe Oastler, after a spell at AFC Totton. His CV includes time spent with teams such as QPR, Torquay & Aldershot. At right-back will be Josh McCormick, who has spent most of this career at Winchester City, and joined the Dolphins at the start of last season. Dan Carr joined Poole midway through last season making 15 appearances in the 2025/26 campaign, scoring one goal and registering three assists. He started his career in Buckinghamshire with Aylesbury FC, before moving to Welwyn Garden City, but is known for his time at Hanwell Town, where he made over 200 appearances for the Geordies. 31-year-old Ryan Campbell was the Dolphins second summer signing last season, after spending eight years at Swinson Supermarine. The left-back has scored over 50 goals in his career from this role. Owen Dore, is a centre-back, who progressed through the youth ranks of Oxford United and Southampton, at 20, he signed for North Leigh in 2022, then Salisbury in 2023, and is loan from the Whites until January. In goal will once more be Adam Parkes who joined from Gosport who starts his second season with the club. A reliable keeper, who previously played for Taunton Town, and before that Southampton, Watford, Barnet & Plymouth amongst others.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
The loss at Hanwell despite a good first-half performance leaves us and four others club without a win at this early stage of the season. Dan Brownlie provided an update on our current squad injuries, which clearly puts more pressure on those who have started the first two games of the season.
Our strikeforce for the midweek game at Hanwell was Jeremiah Okine-Peters, Miles Obodo & Jedidiah Brown, who all looked skilful and energetic without providing that final finish required. Christos, was one of four changes made midway through the second-half, and came close to finding an equaliser, as his shot slid agonizingly inches wide of the post. Our other striker Finn Evans was a very, very late substitute with us needing a goal. Both, Andrei Chiriac and Cheick Sylla are still sidelined through injury.
The midfield was once again led by Louis McGrory, Tom Blake and James Henry, who had to battle all-game against a strong Hanwell midfield. With the significant injuries to John Adebiyi & Amareep Singh, plus an old injury to Lloyd Snell reappearing, it gave us a chance to use D’Andre Brown, young Aleks Kokoszka & Joe Lewis-Evans, as second-half substitutes, and they all looked lively for the rest of the game. Does this mean they will be given a start tomorrow is unclear. Ben Parkinson was missing from the matchday squad.
The defence was under early pressure from Hanwell’s aerial presence from corners, but had little to do as the referee awarded Hanwell a questionable first-half penalty, to give them the lead. I’ve heard of no injury updates, so expect the lien-up to be the same with Billy Upton partnered by Bernie Tanner in the middle. Joe O’Loughlin’s neat finish from close-range was our goal-scorer Tuesday and should remain in his left-back role, whilst Casey Bocarro could remain as the starting right-back. It’s unclear on Scott Armsworth’s current situation and whether he can make the match-day squad. Simon Grant will once more don the goalkeepers jersey.
Already under a little pressure, we head to one of the playoff hopefuls, with a lot to prove, but at least the expected heat will be more like normal summer temperatures.
For those travelling please note the game will once more be segregated and tickets must be purchased online before the game for those in our designated area.
Let’s Go Stoke !
Match Preview by Martin French..
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