Laverstock & Ford
Laverstock & Ford vs Shaftesbury
Velocity Wessex League Premier Division – Tuesday 16th April 2024
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Laverstock & Ford v Shaftesbury
Tuesday sees the ‘Rockies’ travel to The Dell, Church Road to face a Laverstock & Ford side sat just outside the play off places in 7th place with 61 points. They have two games left and with Brockenhurst on 64 points in 5th place they really have to win both games and hope Brockenhurst and Portland United fail to pick up points.
In short Laverstock & Ford will be needing to defeat us on Tuesday. On Thursday night they will be wanting us to win at Portland United who have the extra game and nine points to play for.
It was somewhat unfortunate for Laverstock & Ford that they ran into champions Moneyfields on Saturday. Despite two goals from Archie Lovegrove they were beaten 4-2 at the Dell.
Portland United v Shaftesbury
It’s been a long hard season and playing Laverstock & Ford in a week night is one thing, facing Portland United two days later is not what anybody wants!
Thursday nights are not ideal and it’s going to be a long week. I for one due to work shifts won’t be able to be there to report and I expect a fair few people have other commitments as well. The players don’t have that choice!
The Camp & Satherley Stadium is also a ground we don’t do to well at. We lost 2-0 there just over a year ago and they have also been up here and grinded a 0-0 draw back in August. With Harrison Bruton and Joe Wickham both ex- Rockies they will be out to turn us over.
What does this mean for us?
These games are not dead rubbers. We need to win all three against Laverstock & Ford, Portland United and Andover New Street to at least secure 3rd place for home advantage vs AFC Portchester in the play offs.
To gain the runners up spot we need AFC Stoneham to drop points in their last two games and win all three. Our maximum is 93 points if so. AFC Stoneham have a five point lead over us on 89 points.
They travel to Hythe & Dibden on Tuesday night and we know what a tough game they gave us needing an injury time goal from Brett Pitman to win the game 2-1.
Hythe & Dibden have three home games in a week and will have played United Services Portsmouth tonight, then a day later face AFC Stoneham, then Bournemouth on Saturday. Realistically the two games against those sides they will look to be getting the points in as anything v AFC Stoneham would be a bonus.
AFC Stoneham then face AFC Portchester on Saturday. It is unlikely they will let it slip in all honesty. In fact it may be better they beat AFC Portchester to help give us home advantage in the play offs.
Remaining games –
Moneyfields (Champions) – 18/4 – Fareham Town (A), 20/4 – Sherborne Town. Points 96 Maximum – 102
AFC Stoneham – 16/4 – Hythe & Dibden (A), 20/4 – AFC Portchester (H)
Points – 89 Maximum – 95
Shaftesbury – 16/4 – Laverstock & Ford (A), 18/4 – Portland United (A), 20/4 – Andover New Street (H)
Points – 84 Maximum – 93
Play Off Challengers
Brockenhurst – 16/4 Fareham Town (H), 20/4 – Portland United (A)
Points – 64 Maximum – 70
Portland United – 15/4 Fareham Town (A), 18/4 – Shaftesbury (H), 20/4 – Brockenhurst (H)
Points – 62 Maximum – 71
Laverstock & Ford – 16/4 Shaftesbury (H), Blackfield & Langley (H)
Points – 61 Maximum – 66
Baffins Milton Rovers – 15/4 Sherborne Town (A), 16/4 Petersfield Town (H), 18/4 – United Services Portsmouth (H), 20/4 – Christchurch (A)
Points – 57 Maximum – 69
Cowes Sports – 50 points Cannot qualify for the play offs.
An here’s a real outsider. What odds on this? That is quite a haul and just doing those will be an achievement even with an extension up to Saturday 27th.
Sherborne Town – 15/4 Baffins Milton Rovers (H), 18/4 – Hamble Club (H), 20/4- Moneyfields (A), 23/4 – Lymington Town (H), 25/4 – Blackfield & Langley (A), 27/4 – Hythe & Dibden (A)
Points – 48 Maximum – 66
⛱️ ‘Rockies’ View
Milligan’s Focus
After a run of seven straight victories securing home advantage in the play offs is our main priority. Despite having a game in hand a Thursday night trip to Portland United is not really what anyone wants and the lads will have to dig deep.
A Wednesday night trip to AFC Portchester is the worst case scenario and it’s not a ground we do well at. It’s unlikely that AFC Stoneham will blow the runners up position and as the old saying goes we will get what we are given.
On the other side we are the form team. Even Moneyfields have dropped two points in a 3-3 draw at Brockenhurst! Though this is a tough week for the team no doubt Milligan is hungry though and a win at all costs type of person. After a 13th place last season we have come a long way.
♠️ Brett Pitman has 54 goals in the league one short of Andy Forbes 55 for Winchester City in 2003/04. He has surpassed Winchester City’s Jamie White’s 51 goals in 2011/12 and his own 50 for AFC Portchester in 2022/23.
♠️ Dan Bartlett – The ‘Engineer’ has been a quality addition alongside his Wimborne Town team mate Ben Satterley adding Pitching In Southern League South West quality to the ‘Rockies’ with another former Magpie Louis Kellaway who picks up the scarps in midfield for the ‘Engineer’ to spread the play. It’s a right old Cuthbury club up here in Shaftesbury!
Sam Davidson was superb at Hythe & Dibden on Saturday. Known as ‘Davo’ obviously. I think he should be known as ‘The Rock’ from now on!
🎯 Marksmen – Brett Pitman 56, Cameron Beard 15, Callum Sweeney 9, Asa Philips 6, Greg Peel 6, Stuart Green 4, Louis Kellaway 4, Ben Satterley 2, Liam Farrugia 2.
(All competitions/ current players)
♠️ Laverstock & Ford – Of course they have ‘Benno’ (Justin Bennett) up top. The experienced striker has 6 goals. Adam Bourner has 13 along with Cameron Roach and Archie Lovegrove. ‘Bourns’ is Mister Bulldogs. That’s 13 captains goals as well! Tommy Campbell Smith is rocking in with 10 goals.
🎯 Marksmen – Archie Lovegrove 13, Adam Bourner 13, Cameron Roach 13, Tommy Campbell Smith 10. Chae Sykes 9, Justin Bennett 6, Russell Jones 5.
♠️ Portland United – Greg Borthwick 17 goals will stand out. Jack Delves has been a good signing from Dorset Premier League Dorchester Sports. Of course Joe Wickham will be out to show Jim what he’s missing!
Portland spread the goals out and whereas they have scored 63 goals, bar Moneyfields and AFC Stoneham their 38 goals conceded is the lowest in the division.
🎯 Marksmen – Greg Borthwick 17, Joe Wickham 7, Ben Morris 7, Ryan McKechnie 5, Thomas Doyle 5, Jack Delves 5.
Report/ Photos – Avril Lancaster 🐌
Action from the home games vs Portland United and Laverstock & Ford in August and September.
Review by Avril Lancaster 🐌
