Grays Athletic 0, Basingstoke Town 1

A RARE Neville Roach header helped Basingstoke Town inflict Grays' first defeat of the season and lifted them to second in the Nationwide South table.

"A job well done" was Ernie Howe's reaction to his side's triumph at the Recreation Ground which, due to Grays' ongoing construction of new stands, currently resembles a building site.

But, up against gritty and physical hosts, it was the Town ranks who played with the work ethic of solid teamsters - and the foreman was striker Roach.

He was in the right place at the right time to convert an inch-perfect Nathan Stamp cross from the right flank, delivered after Martin Whiddett had shown his customary willingness to chase a lost cause and win a throw near the corner flag.

Brett Cooper subsequently threw to Stamp, and Grays' defence stood like statues as he whipped in a beautiful ball. Roach nipped in to head home from six-yards past outcoming 'keeper Carl Emerson.

The 43rd-minute effort came shortly after Grays' substitute Will Powell should have given his side the lead.

After Neville Stamp and Stuart Tanfield had failed to deal with Joe Bruce's perseverance on the right wing - Stamp losing out on the ball close to the Town area - Bruce sent over a cross that unmarked Powell, at the back post with the goal at his mercy, headed down. However, it bounced up over the bar.

Although Town went into the half-time interval leading - Scott Tarr had made a top early save with his legs when Stuart Thurgood was in on goal - Howe was far from happy.

He said: "I gave the lads a bit of a scolding during the break. We were defending well but then giving the ball away too sloppily. We were causing our own problems by making the wrong decisions.

"But we improved in the second half and Scotty was a big performer for us in the box. He came and caught and punched well.

"We got a few breaks and some of the refereeing decisions were harsh on us, but Grays didn't really create anything to trouble us in the second half.

"Even though they did have a spell of possession in our half, we worked hard to stop them creating.

"I always like to see defenders throwing and getting their bodies in the way, which we did well."

Howe said he knew the game was going to be tight, but was delighted with the 1-0 win.

"I'd take 10 more of them this season," he said.

"It's a great result away from home at a tough place to come to. I can't be anything but pleased.

"It was a great ball in from Nathan, and Roachy is looking very sharp at the moment. It was another quality goal."

Town continue to surprise the form book, refusing to buckle against their full-time opponents.

The respect given Howe's team was revealed when the boss said he saw Grays play three up front against Carshalton in Monday's 2-0 win, but only two on Saturday against Town.

Town go to Weymouth tomorrow full of confidence after taking nine points from 12 in a month that they were anticipating being very tough, given the quality of opposition.

Cristian Levis (hamstring) is a doubt for the trip.

Basingstoke Town: Scott Tarr, Brett Cooper, Scott Smith, Jason Bristow, Neville Stamp (Rob Westall 80 min), David Ray, Cristian Levis (Stuart Tanfield 26 min), Sergio Torres, Martin Whiddett, Neville Roach, Nathan Stamp. Not used: Ricky Allaway, Liam Parrington, Mark Zawadski.