JIM DIXON has praised his Basingstoke side for their determined spirit in securing a last-minute win over Thanet, but warned them that poor discipline almost cost a vital victory.

Despite playing with the wind in the first half, 'Stoke only led 5-0 after a Simon Buckland try.

They looked to be heading for a disastrous defeat when Roberto Bussati and Tom Northcote were sin-binned, and during their absence, Thanet scored their three tries.

But 'Stoke, trailing 17-5 with 10 minutes to go, rallied to score through Simon Appleby and Seb Berti.

And into a difficult wind, fly-half Ian Calder - praised by Dixon afterwards - had his kicking boots on to nail the tough conversions and secure the points.

Dixon said: "We struggled to come to terms with the refereeing decisions and should have adapted sooner, even if the ref didn't help at all by not explaining what we were doing wrong.

"That could have cost us, because, in games as tight as this was, you cannot afford to be men down, and both sides scored when it was like that.

"Hopefully, it's another lesson learned. I was delighted with the attitude of the boys in coming back, but hope we don't have to keep putting ourselves in tough positions to get such a response.

"It would have been a nasty trip back if we hadn't got the two points, as Thanet is a long way to go."

Dixon felt that rustiness after the festive break accounted for 'Stoke's failure to take the chances the backs made, but he was pleased with new hooker Pete Maxwell's debut in the pack. "He made real impact in the scrum and also came close to scoring twice," said Dixon.

Dixon has fixed up a friendly game against Newbury II tomorrow to ensure 'Stoke maintain their match fitness levels and team cohesion.

He won't be playing, so there will be a reshuffled back row of Dan Rees at openside flanker, Appleby at blindside, and Northcote at No 8.

Dixon said he would use the game to give opportunities to Dragons players knocking on the first-team door.