Hayes 0, Basingstoke Town 1

CRISTIAN Levis scored the goal that settled a drab affair at ex-Conference club Hayes on Saturday.

The Argentinian was restored to his favoured position as second striker alongside Neville Roach, because of a back injury to Martin Whiddett.

Against a strong, direct team, who looked to get behind the visiting defence with balls over the top to try to utilise the pace of ex-Camrose Blue John Dyer, Town had to battle hard to grind out all three points.

They ultimately came thanks to Levis' early strike, scored in the ninth minute, but manager Ernie Howe was delighted with the application of the team as a whole.

"The lads have all worked hard to get our first league away win since Newport County back in December," he said. "The goal did wonders for Cristian. We saw how much he was lifted by it."

Howe added: "We had to grind it out, defended well and possibly should've taken a few more chances that came our way, but it's a good result. I'll always take a 1-0 win away from home."

Levis certainly made the most of his best chance, which was set up by a foraging run inside from right-back Brett Cooper.

Picking up Cooper's pass 20-yards out, Levis turned his marker, Richard Harris, but still found himself sandwiched between the big centre-half, midfielder Kevin McKenna and left-back Adam Everitt.

However, the ball ricocheted off bodies and limbs and broke for Levis inside the box.

He took a touch forward and then, with the outside of his right foot, curled his shot into the left corner past goalkeeper Kevin Davies.

It was a lead that was protected with vigour as the game progressed, particularly by captain Jason Bristow and defensive partner Mark Paterson.

They were called into action because central midfield increasingly became a problem due to an inability to keep possession, or challenge effectively for secondary balls, enabling Hayes to build pressure.

Nathan Stamp made a fine covering tackle on 31 minutes to halt McKenna as he was poised to pull the trigger.

Just before half-time, Scott Tarr was alert and brave to stop Kieran Knight when he latched on to a Davies goal-kick, the bounce of which was misjudged by Paterson.

It was Knight again minutes later who was in on goal after Dyer beat Bristow to nod a header on to his strike partner, but he lobbed over as Tarr's big frame bore down on him.

The second half was dominated by baffling refereeing decisions and more dogged Town play.

Tarr was again at his bravest to block at the feet of winger Kevin Warner on 65 minutes, after Cooper's mistake was seized upon.

A tactical switch by Howe, with 30 minutes left, saw Levis drop back to right-wing to create a five-man midfield.

It worked a treat as Town began to re-impose themselves after floored Hayes substitute David Warner hooked past the far post when Town failed to clear Everitt's long throw.

Town hit back and David Stroud shot just over from 25-yards with a superb rasping volley on 80 minutes.

German De La Vega should have wrapped the game up nine minutes later but somehow contrived to fire over from five yards after a wonderful flowing move down the right involving Town's South American contingent.

It almost proved to be a costly miss, as Tarr had to perform a fantastic brave stop five minutes into injury time to deny Hayes sub Josh Scott.

The two burly players collided in mid-air as Tarr expertly saved Scott's goal-bound header from five yards by diving to his right at full-stretch.

Basingstoke Town: Scott Tarr, Brett Cooper, Nathan Stamp, Jason Bristow, Mark Paterson, David Ray, German De La Vega, Sergio Torres, Cristian Levis, Neville Roach (sub Adam Wallace 73min), David Stroud. Subs (not used): Jamie McClurg, Uwa Ogbodo, Liam Castle, Neville Stamp.