Town pay for a rare mistake

A FESTIVE hangover struck on Monday as second-from-bottom Maidenhead stole a narrow victory to deny Ernie Howe's Town side a happy Christmas.

After an excellent away win at Newport County sent him into the demanding Christmas period with optimism, manager Howe felt it was a "missed opportunity" to build momentum and maintain pressure on Grays at the top of the Nationwide South table.

In front of a cracking Christmas Camrose crowd of 601, there was a malaise among both sets of players that dictated a draw was probably on the cards, especially on a still-frozen, slippery surface.

Town enjoyed the best of the first half in terms of possession, but failed to make it count or really create any clear-cut chances.

Neville Stamp had the best opportunity, on 16 minutes, when he beat three players by cutting in from the left flank, before unleashing a half-volley drive from an acute angle that Magpies 'keeper Ademole Bankole, at full stretch to his left, just diverted around the far post.

There was a definite feeling of apathy on the pitch and, in boxing parlance, it was like watching two fighters sound each other out - a few jabs here and there but never any danger of a knock-out blow being landed.

That was until the second-half introduction of striker Lawrence Yaku for Maidenhead.

Stamp had, minutes earlier, defended well to clear from the goal-line after James Cook had beaten Scott Tarr to a through-ball and lobbed the Town 'keeper from the edge of the box.

But lively Yaku was in the right place at the right time - only 60 seconds after coming on - to net in the 57th minute.

He seized upon a rare mistake from Jason Bristow - who mis-timed his jump for a header that skimmed off the top of his head and into Yaku's path 25 yards out.

Yaku burst forward, rounded Tarr on the edge of the area to the left and just got the better of Ricky Allaway, back in a last-ditch attempt to tackle, before firing home from 12 yards.

Howe said: "It was the type of game when an error or mistake in a situation was the only way we were going to see a goal. Unfortunately, it was us who did it."

Boosted by the goal, Maidenhead started playing well and Yaku almost got his second soon after another a defensive mix-up.

This time, his shot was saved well by Tarr and the rebound was put wide.

Howe threw on Cristian Levis to gee up Town's attacking play as the midfield increasingly lost contact with forwards Martin Whiddett and Neville Roach during the half.

And it was the Argentinian who might have earned the point, which would have been fair overall, but he put his powerful 80th-minute header, from Brett Cooper's cross, just wide.

A Roach shot straight at Bankole represented Town's final effort, as Maidenhead's fans gleefully poked fun at Town's league position upon the final whistle.

A disappointed Howe said afterwards: "Instead of delivering balls, we tried to play it, and slippery conditions didn't suit that approach.

"We have played our best stuff when we've delivered balls into the box, but today we didn't look like we were going to do it.

"It's a bad result from our point of view. I have said before where we are short in terms of players and this type of game shows it.

"Maidenhead aren't anything special but yet again we've lost to a team near the bottom.

"We just don't seem to have the mentality to carry it off against sides like that."

The defeat moves Town down to third in the league, but they have a swift chance of revenge when they travel to Maidenhead on New Year's Day for the return league encounter.

Basingstoke Town: Scott Tarr, Brett Cooper, Neville Stamp, Jason Bristow, Ricky Allaway, David Ray, Jamie McClurg (sub Cristian Levis 66min), Sergio Torres, Martin Whiddett, Neville Roach, Jamie Roach. Subs not used: Liam Parrington, Nathan Stamp, Mark Zawadski, Toby Sumner.