Monday Morning Quarterback 2019-20 Season – Issue 26

Monday Morning Quarterback 2019-2020 Issue 26 Upon Further Review

A hard-working performance on a very heavy pitch, where we had chances to equalise towards the last few minutes of the first-half, was followed up by a dominating second-half of possession, but few actual goalmouth incidents. Most of the last 45 minutes saw Connor Lynch trying to break the offside trap, he did once successfully, finishing with a calm, confident, clinical manner.

A few minutes later, an almost exact breakaway just wide of the goal, but slotted this one just wide of the goal, and one other break, the linesman flagged him for offside.

I think Lynch, clearly showed a forward role that has sadly been missing for most of the season, that included pace, strength and a desire to attack straight at the heart of the opposing defence.

Losing Captain Simon Dunn, probably to a recurrence of last week’s injury so early on, does not bode well for the ‘Super Tuesday’ rematch against Thatcham Town in 36 hours-time. Dunn, replaced by D’Andre Brown along with many fans man-of-the-match Harrison Cliff, both battled on a pitch looking more like the Somme (as someone stated), than a pitch. As the game went on more poorly timed tackles went in and the referee had to deal with a number of decisions of whether to book the player or not. Rovers certainly second-half were helped by the pitch as we looked to take the game to them.

How many positions did Claudio Herbert play on Saturday? I can recall him at right back, right-half, right and left wing!

The defence apart from giving up that goal, looked better, and won three headers that I can recall in the heart of the goalmouth.

Unfortunately the point was not enough to extend our lead against Barnstaple Town, as they picked up a point, as they held a free-scoring and inform Sholing to a goal-less draw in Devon.

For those who attended yesterday’s match, you will have noticed a number of off-field issues, which I will not cover here, as an investigation into the events is underway.

After draws for both us and Barnstaple yesterday, we each now have 11 games remaining (6 at home and 5 away).

In March we face Willand Rovers at home (1-1) 1pt, Thatcham Town at home, Bristol Manor Farm away, Cinderford Town away, Frome Town at Home and Slimbridge at home. Barnstaple Town face Sholing at home (0-0) 1pt, Larkhall Athletic away, Winchester City away, Highworth Town at home, Willand Rovers at home and AFC Totton away.

Who do you think will earn more points in the month of March? A tough one to call.

Well the top of the table took another twist this weekend as Frome Town were replaced by former leaders Thatcham Town, on goal difference. Frome went to then 5th placed Paulton Rovers, and led twice in the first-half, but were pulled back by a Ben Bament finish, his 21st of the season, with 17 minutes remaining.

The new leaders Thatcham Town, with leading-forward Kyle Tooze still missing through suspension (Should be missing Tuesday), travelled to a struggling Mangotsfield side, and left with a comfortable 0-4 win. Barcelos got his first of his two goals within a five minute three goal Kingfisher goal-spree just before the half-hour. Thatcham added their fourth just before the hour though an own goal.

Larkhall Athletic still sit in third place, but they came unstuck at the improving Cirencester Town losing 4-0. The Centurions were helped to their win as a Tom Warren own-goal got the scoring going, but leading by two goals at halftime, they dominated the second-half and they added a further two goals on 75 & 82 minutes. Cirencester now sit in sixth place just two point behind fifth placed Melksham.

Oops Melksham slipped down a spot (5th), as they threw a way a two-goal halftime lead at home to Bideford. The Robins came back with goals by Alex Byrne, Niall Heeney and with 7 minutes to go the winner by Sean Downing.

Bideford also extend their unbeaten run to seven games.

In fourth is the resurgent Winchester City, who won twice inside five days, as they went on the road winning 1-2 at Slimbridge and dominated the game, adding goals in each other half, before Slimbridge pulled a late goal back on 86 minutes.

The Top Five in Our League

The Division One South league goal-scoring chart.

Paulton’s Ben Bament, took a big step in winning the golden boot for our league, as he added three (two in a Tuesday night home loss to Sholing) to his tally this week. Two more goals for Thatcham’s Felipe Barcelos pushed him up the table.

• No Longer in the league

At the bottom of the table, having already covered us and Barnstaple, Moneyfields pulled further away from the bottom with a crowd pulling 1-0 home win against Highworth Town.

Above them we have covered Mangotsfield Utd who lost at home to Thatcham.

Back in the bottom five sit AFC Totton who lost 4-2 at Cinderford Town. The Foresters goals came from a pair of goals by Andrew Lewis and Blaine Waugh.

The only other game not covered by the top and bottom league battles were, Evesham’s goal-less draw at home to our next Saturday opponents Bristol Manor Farm.

The highest attendance of the day again was Melksham’s game against Bideford with a crowd of 362, whilst Moneyfields yet again achieve the lowest attendance of the weekend with just 63 against Highworth Town.

The Bottom Five in our League Now Looks Like This

* Point deducted for illegal player.

Basingstoke Town Goal Scorers Chart (Just one goal to add, which was Dean Stow’s header against Melksham)

* Players no longer with the club

There are currently four games planned for Tuesday night, one of course is our match against Thatcham. The other three are Cinderford’s home game against Sholing, Larkhall’s home game against Slimbridge and the visit of Cirencester to Mangotsfield Utd.