Carshalton Athletic 2, Basingstoke Town 0

A SLOPPY, lacklustre display enraged boss Ernie Howe as Basingstoke Town's dismal record against teams at the bottom of Nationwide South continued at Carshalton.

Howe stormed straight to the dressing room upon the final whistle where he blasted his side for their lack of composure and commitment.

The reverse means Town have taken just one point from the last 12 - a trend assistant manager Pete Peters knows has to stop if they are to sustain a play-off challenge.

Basement outfits Havant, Maidenhead and now Carshalton have all taken the points off Town in recent weeks to derail their play-off status, for they now lie sixth.

Peters said: "We've got to stop the rot that's set in since Christmas. One point from 12 isn't good enough, especially against sides low in the table.

"We aren't going to get a better chance of making the play-offs than this season, and that's what makes results like this so annoying.

"We are extremely disappointed with some of the players. We knew it would be a battle today, but there was no effort or commitment.

"Some clearly don't have the stomach for it, and we need to bring in some fresh faces if we aren't to fall away."

It could have been different had Jamie McClurg taken a golden opportunity on 12 minutes.

Unmarked McClurg, poor for the reserves last Saturday, but who kept his place in the senior side, failed to convert David Ray's excellent centre.

The swing of McClurg's right boot from 10 yards out, to try and clip the ball into the top-left corner, when a low rap was required, was shoddy.

But worse for Town was that Carshalton went straight up the other end to score.

Scott Smith - who also had a nightmare afternoon - dallied on the ball and was dispossessed by Sam Saunders. He had a clear run on goal and lobbed over Scott Tarr from just inside the box as the Town 'keeper came out.

It was just the confidence boost Carshalton needed but, instead of provoking a positive response, Town wilted. There was no urgency. That was despite the efforts of Cristian Levis and Neville Roach, in tandem up front.

Peters felt the pair linked well to create three chances that Roach spurned, firing wide when well-placed. Goalkeeper Stuart Searle wasn't worked once all game.

The second half saw Howe become an increasingly agitated figure on the sidelines as Town continued to labour.

The passing was loose, 50-50 balls went uncontested and instructions were ignored. He hauled the ineffective Nathan Stamp off after one awful pass too many.

On 79 minutes, Carshalton sealed their win, after McClurg was caught in possession trying to do too much.

His robber, Matt York, on the left flank, sent a pass to Billy Harding, who got there ahead of another poor Town performer, Brett Cooper, and mocked him with a diagonal pass to Saunders.

His dragged left-foot shot from inside the box found its way perfectly for Nic McDonnell at the far post to tap in easily.

Tarr hadn't had a save to make all day, but was called into action with five minutes to go, making two good stops.

Substitute Liam Wright should have made it 3-0, but he fired wide after jinking past two players and sending his shot over the grounded Tarr but wide of the left post.

Peters said: "Both goals were an absolute travesty and sloppy is a good word to describe them. The ball was given away cheaply.

"We had no fight and, in all fairness, they had more about them. They wanted it more and we had a lack of desire to want to battle for a result. It's so disappointing."

Basingstoke Town: Scott Tarr, Brett Cooper, Neville Stamp, Jason Bristow, Scott Smith (sub Liam Parrington 85min), David Ray, Jamie McClurg, Sergio Torres, Cristian Levis, Neville Roach, Nathan Stamp (sub Ryan Stephens 69min). Subs (not used): Martin Whiddett, Mark Zawadski, Jamie Roach.