Basingstoke Town 3, Redbridge 0

ERNIE Howe admitted his Town side's first-half performance "was dire" but his strong words at half-time inspired his players to overcome bottom-of-the-table Redbridge.

The Town boss had to take action because their opening 45 minutes on Saturday were sluggish and it looked like "it was going to be one of those frustrating games," he said.

Their only real chance came on 30 minutes, when Mark Paterson, doing everything right in heading Neville Stamp's corner down, saw his effort bounce up off the hard pitch and, unluckily, on to the crossbar.

That wasn't good enough for Howe, whose initial annoyance with such a listless first half was heightened by injuries to goalkeeper Scott Tarr and midfielder Sergio Torres.

Both had to be withdrawn after the interval with a pulled hamstring and a swollen foot respectively, no doubt indirectly adding fuel to Howe's pep-talk.

The reshuffle he was forced into proved influential, especially in midfield, where David Ray, back in the centre as the holding player alongside German De La Vega, afforded the Argentinian freedom to bring greater impetus to attacking forays.

And the subsequent three second-half goals - from Cristian Levis, Neville Roach and sub Adam Wallace - that secured all three points pleased Howe.

Town move up to sixth place, level on points with fifth-placed Hornchurch on goal difference, in the chase for a Nationwide South play-off spot.

Howe said afterwards: "I wasn't happy at half-time and let my feelings known.

"Yet again, we were looking at a performance where we weren't playing well against a lower league side.

"We were taking too long to do things and making poor decisions - but we were a different team after half-time after I'd had a go at them."

Howe added: "Cristian's scored a very good header and worked very hard generally, while Roachy, who was touch and go whether I'd play him because of his sore knee, has got another great goal.

"It's good news we've got another clean sheet, moved up a league place and are still in with a shout of the play-offs. We have to make sure we keep going."

Levis scored in the 55th minute with an excellent header that rifled into the top corner after he met Neville Stamp's pinpoint cross 12 yards out with a fine leap and powerful connection.

It was Roach's turn to get in on the act on 66 minutes, when he scored his 21st goal of a prolific season.

Paterson met Redbridge goalkeeper Jamie Reilly's goal-kick with a dominant header that caught the visiting defence on their heels.

Livewire Roach, on the other hand, collected and controlled in an instant before firing a 20-yard volley low into the bottom right corner.

It was a strike from a confident man bang on form and effectively sealed the game for Howe's men.

Town matched their opening result of the season against Redbridge when, after a superb attacking run past two players and an unselfish pass from De La Vega past Reilly's dive, Wallace was afforded a simple tap-in with the outside of his right boot.

Basingstoke Town: Scott Tarr (sub Liam Castle 45min), Brett Cooper, Neville Stamp, Jason Bristow, Mark Paterson, David Ray, German De La Vega, Sergio Torres (sub Nathan Stamp 45min), Martin Whiddett (sub Adam Wallace 72min), Neville Roach, Cristian Levis. Not used: Ricky Allaway, Uwa Ogbodo.

Attendance: 315.

First published: Monday, April 4, 2005