Metropolitan Police 1, Basingstoke Town Reserves 4

SMILES were put back on the faces of all who love Basingstoke Town when the reserves retained the Suburban League Challenge Shield in style.

With the disappointment of the senior team's failure to make the new Conference South league still fresh - and doubts over manager Ernie Howe's future at the Camrose - Peter Gray's side produced a comprehensive victory to lift spirits after a difficult week at the club.

Goals from Robbie Deacon, Ross Norgate, Ian Dickens and Matt Brunt sealed the reserves' 4-1 triumph on Saturday - to the delight of the fans who travelled down the M3 to Imber Court to back Gray's youngsters.

There were cheers aplenty when reserves captain Simon Herbert lifted the shield following the post-match presentation.

Afterwards, boss Gray was full of praise for all his charges.

He said: "The lads have trained hard this week and they wanted it. A few were nervous before-hand but they've all done well out there. They were hungry to win the shield."

Gray added: "We were fortunate to be 2-0 up at half-time. The Met Police had a couple of chances which, if they'd had a bit of luck, could have gone in. But when they didn't, I thought they didn't look like they believed they could win.

"We pushed on then and could have had more than four. At the end of the day, we did enough, so I'm pleased with the lads and their performance.

"Hopefully it has put some smiles on faces, although I would've given this up for the club getting into the new set-up."

John Condon, the reserves' assistant manager, reiterated Gray's comment, but added: "I'm over the moon with the win. It was another hard-working performance from a great bunch of lads who have put in a lot of effort over the last 10 months.

"They deserve to enjoy success today."

The reserves' win ensured that the club's end-of-season awards/ disco later that evening at the Camrose was not the sombre occasion people were expecting.

Various accolades went to youth, reserve and senior team players, while a promise auction, staged to sell sporting memorabil-ia and other items, raised £2,114 for the club coffers.

See the football section of the website for a match report