Berkshire Bound for Tiverton as They Travel to Mid-Table Bracknell Town.

Match Preview

Bracknell Town v Tiverton Town

Saturday April 11th

3pm Kick Off

At The SB Stadium

Bottom Meadow

Darren Holmes

Yellow's fans enjoying the 2-0 home win against Bracknell back in September. (Viv Curtis)

A performance that warranted more than it achieved on Easter Monday versus Plymouth Parkway should definitely not be seen in the negative. The players almost executed a game plan then that could easily have won that game, but for a few sloppy moments.

Bracknell upset Farnham in the last round of fixtures and actually achieved the double over their local rivals who occupy one of the play off positions. 

Without an extremely troublesome start to the season, which saw Two managerial departures in the first Three months of the campaign, the Eleventh positioned Robins who only had 6 points on the board after 12 games would probably be contesting the play off places themselves.

Their fortunes have changed dramatically since the appointment of interim manager; former player Carl Davies and first team coach Sean Miles who had a high profile job as the strength and conditioning coach at National League side Sutton United, before taking up this role.

Earlier in the season, like Plymouth Parkway, Tiverton also beat Bracknell. Though our hosts are stronger this time around. Our  recent loan signings appear to have enhanced the squad and made us more competitive too. Fletcher Poole, Sam Lord and Liam Cartwright have all adapted well to the division.

There has also been a very encouraging return from the treatment table for Gabe Billington. The midfielder is in good form and has scored in each of the games he has played since injury. This all bodes well for the future.

Meanwhile in the present, Bracknell have potent striker Jack Mazzone in their ranks. Not a starter in recent games, but Mazzone is very much a proven player and accomplished finisher at this level. Beginning the season with Chertsey, he moved to the Robins’ midway through the campaign.

Regularly amongst the goals for Met Police, he has played against Tiverton on many occasions. His tally of 25 from 40 games last term are evidence of the danger that he possesses. This term he has notched 14 goals.

Another name striker in this league is Jordan Esprit. His intelligent movement has been apparent on his visits to Ladysmead and he is a gifted all round forward. This is a second stint with the Berkshire side. 36 goals from 72 games was a very good return in his first spell. 

This saw him move a step higher with Hemel Hempstead and then join Walton & Hersham during last season. Re-signed for this campaign, Esprit hasn't been as prolific since returning. However a goal and an assist on Monday suggest he's in good form.

A further striking option is Nebay Haile. The Eritrean frontman has featured mainly off the bench. He is 26 and has brief National South experience with Hemel Hempstead and Dulwich Hamlet.

Winger Ody Alfa is Nigerian born and came through QPR's academy. A talented technician, for four years he had a squad number for the West London outfit. The talented technician was loaned out to Maidenhead, Billericay, Dartford, Aldershot and Chelmsford whilst with the Championship side.

On his release Chelmsford made him a permanent signing and the 27 year old also played for National League Rochdale and Slough before arriving at Bracknell. He did play once for QPR in the League Cup.

Captain Charlie Kennedy has plenty of non league experience to call upon. A cultured central midfielder or defender, Kennedy was a promotion winner with Totton last term. An admired leader on the field, he also captained Salisbury. Prior to that he plied his trade with Gosport, Basingstoke and Hayes & Yeading, starting his football journey at Barnet.

Midfielder Giovanni McGregor was a young Pro at Crystal Palace. Briefly with Hanwell at the start of the season, since his move he has become a regular with the Robins’. After Palace he joined Dulwich Hamlet where he was a mainstay in their 2021/22 campaign. McGregor also has; Wealdstone, Dartford, Hemel Hempstead and Chelmsford on his CV.

Connor Harris is a highly thought of youngster, whose parent club is Farnborough. He is very much part of the management team's plans and has given some eye catching displays from his midfield berth. Previously at AFC Wimbledon, he had another loan spell in this division, earlier in the season at Basingstoke.

Harry Murphy, like Ody Alfa was with QPR in his formative years and the talented midfielder has impressed since arriving on loan from Bedford Town. 

Gabriel George is a left-sided midfield player who is a very good footballer and was with Slough at the start of his senior career. Originally a loanee when with Slough, George is a constant selection and has been since his permanent signature was acquired last term. He is close to 100 Southern League games for the Robins’.

Defensively there is good experience in Bracknell's squad. A seasoned performer at this level Jeanmal Prosper who is very comfortable on the ball, is on a season long loan from Slough, after being an ever present there last term. 

The 32 yr old right back/midfielder has vast pedigree, having been a favourite with Chesham for whom he had a long playing association and has played internationally for Dominica, the country of his birth.

Powerful Defender Marcus Johnson-Schuster began the season with Basingstoke, a club which he was a very prominent player with. It was his Third stint at Stoke and he made in excess of 200 senior appearances for them. He spent time in Plymouth Argyle's academy as a youngster. Amongst others the accomplished right- sided player, has represented; Braintree and Hungerford, higher up the pyramid.

Currently part of QPR's youth system, Jack McDowell is a young prospect whose displays have belied his years. The centre back spent a decade in Aston Villa's academy prior to that. He has also been on loan at Averley.

Nomadic, Reading born keeper Zaki Oualah, once played professionally for AFC Wimbledon and similarly in the Algerian First Division. A real character, the gifted gloveman is Bracknell's current custodian. 

He was Chesham's number one in their promotion season and the 31 year old's other clubs on his CV of which there are 22 more, include;  Weymouth, Billericay, Farnborough, Leatherhead and Farnham.

The motivation for our young squad should be tests like these and how as players they measure up. We are now on the final stretch of this campaign and the Players should have the freedom to express themselves.