Basingstoke Town 0 Carshalton 1
ERNIE HOWE felt it was necessary to maintain a level of perspective about Town's defeat, despite his disappoint-ment at losing to the second-from-bottom team in the Nationwide South.
His young side surrendered their unbeaten record at the Camrose with a poor performance, one where enforced personnel changes caught up with Town, while a general malaise pervaded throughout all areas of the pitch.
Perhaps Town's busy September and the intensity of matches against quality opposition was also a factor, but, whatever the reasons, Howe put it down to "one of those days you get in football".
He added: "We didn't have that little bit of magic we needed today. It was nothing to do with the conditions, we just couldn't produce.
"They didn't really hurt us, although we had a little spell where we panicked after conceding. But we didn't make the right decisions or put the right balls into the box at the right time. It wasn't our day.
"It's disappointing we haven't beaten one of the bottom sides, but it's only one bad result.
"If you had said to me we'd be second in the league and have 25 points from a possible 36 after 12 games, I would've been very happy.
"So I'm not going to knock the lads. After Hornchurch, we've had three wins and a draw from a difficult month.
"Now we have a big game in the FA Cup to look forward to next week where we can put things right."
On Saturday, talismanic mid-fielder Sergio Torres, and Argentinian compatriot Cristian Levis, were again missing.
The match highlighted their importance to Howe's team.
On their replacements, Howe felt Jamie McClurg emerged with credit, while Darren Spong "looked a bit leggy".
"He did better as the game went on at Weymouth and that's why I gave him the nod," explained the Blues boss.
But it wasn't just midfield where Town were off colour. The team's distribution from defence lacked accuracy and composure, while the front pairing of Martin Whiddett and Neville Roach often had to retrieve passes on the flanks, rather than in the box, where they are most dangerous.
Scott Tarr again made some top-draw saves, the best coming in the 19th minute when he produced a point-blank stop with his legs to deny Sam Saunders.
The game's decisive moment came shortly after the restart when a defensive mix-up saw Nic McDonnell get in between Jason Bristow and Scott Smith to lob over a stranded Tarr from the edge of the box.
It looked like an own goal, but both Tarr and Bristow confirmed afterwards that McDonnell had got his boot to it.
Town then had their rocky patch, with Tarr making another two saves, one to tip over Adrian Stone's top-corner-bound strike, the other to thwart McDonnell.
Howe attempted to reinvigorate his side by introducing John Dyer and revert to the 4-3-3 formation that helped earn a 1-1 draw at Weymouth last Tuesday.
Teenager Dyer did well, being a nuisance, yet as the clock ticked down Town still trailed and didn't look like scoring.
Bristow was thrown up front to try and make a difference, but to no avail.
At the death, Whiddett had a free header from Brett Cooper's cross, but the striker headed down and wide of the left post.
It unfortunately summed up Town's lacklustre afternoon.
Basingstoke Town: Scott Tarr, Brett Cooper, Neville Stamp, Jason Bristow, Scott Smith, David Ray, Nathan Stamp (Rob Chamberlain 69 min), Jamie McClurg, Martin Whiddett, Neville Roach, Darren Spong (John Dyer 58 min).
Not used: Stuart Tanfield, Ricky Allaway, Mark Zawad-ski.
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