Town end slump with masterclass

ERNIE Howe hailed his Basingstoke Town side after they put St Albans to the sword with a vibrant display and emphatically halted their recent morale-sapping slump.

Striker Neville Roach hit a hat-trick, while David Ray and Martin Whiddett also got in on the act, to secure Town's biggest win of the season.

Having suffered six consecutive league defeats and been stuck on 43 points since New Year's Day, Howe uttered the belief that Town have got a monkey off their back with this victory.

The pleased Camrose Blues manager added: "Our finishing was clinical today and has helped to get the positive result that I hope will give us something to build on.

"The supply to Roachy and Martin was very good and that's something we've been struggling to do. Plus, we had the breaks we haven't been getting.

"The lads were fired up, worked hard and the result has given everyone a lift. Winning football matches and scoring good goals will do that. It was just what the doctor ordered.

"When things go well in games we have the players who can do things. We looked more like our old selves, but we now have to maintain this level of performance and get back up the Nationwide South table."

Like Howe, the general consensus after the game was that it was more like the pre-Christmas Town side, when there was the confidence and flair in the ranks to create superb goals.

All three of those factors were evident on Saturday, when Roach gave his team a great early start.

On seven minutes, Whiddett pushed a short ball to Roach on the overlap. Positioned in the right of the box, Roach calmly fired across goal into the bottom left corner past City goalkeeper Paul Bastock.

However, St Albans levelled proceedings on 19 minutes with a set-piece move that Town failed to defend.

Matt Hann's corner from the left was met by Ram Marwa, who headed across the goal and into the net.

Roach's attempted lob on 29 minutes was collected by a back-pedalling Bastock, while Whiddett headed wide from David Ray's fine centre on 33 minutes as Town sought to restore their lead.

It came just 120 seconds later when David Stroud's strong, mazy 40-yard run - during which he turned four players - ended with the left-winger delivering a looping cross to the far post that Ray volleyed home with style, giving Bastock no chance.

"The quality of the goal gave everybody a lift," said Howe. "I don't think David intended the cross, but it was a wonderful strike from Davey Ray. The confidence in our play came flooding back then."

The second period saw Town produce a masterclass as they overwhelmed their visitors, who were unbeaten in three matches.

Roach got his second on 53 minutes. A neat flick-on from Whiddett for Roach saw him get goal-side of his marker, and he then rounded Bastock before side-footing home from six yards.

City substitute Tom Beech rounded the recalled Scott Tarr on 63 minutes, but, from an awkward angle, could only shoot into the side netting.

Town rallied with impressive passing and movement. Roach was keenly hunting his hat-trick, which finally came on 73 minutes.

Roach latched onto Neville Stamp's low through-ball and, despite being held back by Chris Seeby, was able to slot the ball underneath Bastock and confirm his man-of-the-match status before he was later replaced by Cristian Levis.

Ragged St Albans were reduced to 10 men when Scott Cousins was dismissed for foul play in an off-the-ball incident, and Whiddett got the goal his efforts deserved 12 minutes from time. Levis ran onto a loose ball and squared from a tough shooting angle for the striker to fire into an exposed and open net.

Basingstoke Town: Scott Tarr, Brett Cooper, Neville Stamp, Jason Bristow, Liam Parrington, David Ray, German De La Vega (Jamie McClurg 79 mins), Sergio Torres, Martin Whiddett (Ryan Stephens 81 mins), Neville Roach (Cristian Levis 77 mins), David Stroud.

Not used: Nathan Stamp, Liam Castle.