Basingstoke v Merthyr

What the hell is going on with us,there's something just not clicking.

In a nutshell just not good enough at the moment, really need a bit of quality but there we are finances don't allow it.

Best to get our bad spell in the season out of the way early on.

Outplayed by the sound of it.

Or saving it to win Saturday in the Cup?

Havant lost to them yet or met our Waterlooville either...

Giant killing of Giants on the cards.?

Boz

Hope so.

Basingstoke Town v Merthyr Town
Merthyr made two changes for their midweek trip to Basingstoke, with Eliot Richards returning after a one-match suspension, replacing Kyle Copp who was not fully fit after a knock on Saturday. Ian Traylor also returned to the starting eleven, with Mo Touray on the bench.
TEAM: Davies Davies Tancock Wright Pring
Patten (R) Evans Richards
Traylor Fleetwood Jenkins

SUBS: Patten (K) Bowen Copp Morgan Touray

Following the disappointment of a 0-0 draw at home to Bishop Stortford, Merthyr started at full pace at Basingstoke, twice getting behind the home defence in the opening minutes without quite making a clear-cut chance. Then, whether by choice or not, Basingstoke began to defend deeper, and the first half was largely played in Basingstoke’s half with some tenacious defending, especially from corners. Young keeper Colm McAdden was fiercely protected by his defence, but luck was on Basingstoke’s side on more than one occasion with the ball ping-ponging around in front of their goal. Jarrad Wright went close, Eliot Richards had a shot deflected over the top, and Ashley Evans was closest of all with a fizzing drive just past the left-hand post with the keeper well beaten.
Just as in last season’s fixture, the home team were always dangerous on the break. Conditions were increasingly difficult, with constant drizzle and a wind blowing apparently in Merthyr’s favour. Scott Tancock cleared the danger of one breakaway, and on the one occasion Ollie Davies was beaten, the goal was correctly ruled out for offside.
It would be hard to criticise Merthyr’s first-half display, but the goal just would not come. We attacked with determination, but could not turn the territorial advantage into a precious lead. Possibly it was all a bit hectic, but the adverse conditions contributed to that.
The second half started with Basingstoke firing over the bar, but early signs were that the wind had dropped, which might have been to Merthyr’s advantage. Not so at all, however, because a few minutes into the half, the wind became one of a swirling variety which eventually was to bring Merthyr’s downfall. After Stuart Fleetwood had been ruled offside when played through by Ian Traylor, the elements started to make an impact. In awful conditions, after 67 minutes, Ashley Evans was caught in possession by Sam Smart who completed a solo goal by chipping Oliver Davies.
Ian Traylor came close with a shot that went wide after being played in by Stuart Fleetwood after 74 minutes, but, a minute later, things took another turn for the worse. Ollie Davies was left stranded as sweeper, guessing the projection and speed of a long ball in the gale. Home striker Smart again pounced on the loose ball, on this occasion after Ollie’s attempt NOT to handle it outside the box. The referee, Matthew Rushton, deserves credit for not adding to Merthyr’s woes, settling for a yellow card, not a red.
2-0 down, and attempts to play controlled football were doomed. All three substitutions had now been made. Neither Jay Bowen nor Mo Touray could have played in such high winds very often –underfoot conditions were perfectly playable, but the wind took even short passes off course. Kerry Morgan found some space out on the left and offered a late attacking threat, but the final whistle came with blessed relief to the Merthyr contingent. In all, this was not a fixture to draw too many conclusions from. Better days will follow.

Thanks Chepstow,

An enjoyable read as from the radio broadcast it sounded like it was one way Basingstoke traffic...

Boz