FOOTBALL is a funny old game, and Basingstoke Town are certainly proving that this season.

They have swept away the pessimistic pre-season predictions to sit proudly near the top of Conference South.

Town opened their league campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win at Redbridge as striker Cristian Levis helped himself to a hat-trick.

Just three days later, any thoughts of the season opener being a fluke were killed off as Town beat Hayes 2-0 as Neville Roach and young midfielder David Ray hit the net.

Sutton were the next to arrive at the Camrose, and they left empty-handed as summer signing Martin Whiddett opened his account with the winner.

A trip to Bishop's Stortford, saw Basingstoke win 3-1 win as Whiddett scored a brace and Nathan Stamp got the other.

Welling arrived at the Camrose on August Bank Holiday Monday and the Kent side were thumped 4-0 as Levis scored his second hat-trick of the season.

The first game in September saw Town beaten 6-0 at Hornchurch. Manager Ernie Howe commented after the game that they would not be the only side to be on the end of that sort of scoreline at Hornchurch this season.

He was proved right last weekend as Maidenhead suffered the same fate.

Basingstoke quickly got the defeat out of their system as they sent Newport County packing back to Wales after a 3-0 win, before local rivals Havant and Waterlooville were beaten 3-2.

A difficult clash at Grays saw Roach score the winner, putting the players in a positive mood for the rest of the season.