Met Police 1, Basingstoke Town Res 4

PETER Gray's Town side retained the Suburban League Challenge Shield with an excellent performance at Imber Court on Saturday.

As holders from the 2001-02 season - the tournament wasn't played last year - the reserves were determined to ensure the silverware stayed in the Camrose trophy cabinet.

And a solid display gave the whole club something to celebrate after what has been a tough campaign for manager Ernie Howe and the senior team - especially in recent weeks.

Town had conceded ground advantage to avoid a clash with the first team's play-off tie against Lewes last Wednesday.

An enthralling opening 20 minutes saw chances at both ends before Town reserves went on to dominate.

The first opportunity came on 10 minutes when Ian Dickens hit the underside of the bar with a shot from eight yards.

Met Police hit back when midfielder Gareth Thomas put through Steve Boswell, dissecting the reserves' back line with a pass into the inside-right channel. But goalkeeper Mark Zawadski came out to narrow the angle and made a fine save with his feet, diverting the ball out for a corner which came to nothing.

On 16 minutes, a Simon Herbert free-kick from the right was met by Robbie Deacon on the edge of the box. His looping header fell just under the bar as home goalie Paul Butterfill mis-judged the flight.

Undeterred, Met Police drove forward and Thomas hit the post with a rasping 20-yard shot that had the beating of Zawadski. But Symon James, following in, couldn't beat the goalkeeper who got up quickly to block.

On 30 minutes, Ross Norgate's low free-kick - awarded for a foul on Matt Brunt 20 yards out - took a deflection off the wall and then the right post before finding the net.

Dickens, who had also spurned a close-range header just before half-time, made it 3-0 on 63 minutes.

Brunt's shot from the edge of the box deflected straight into Dicken's path and his first touch took him away from the stranded 'keeper. 'Tizer' had the simple task of firing into an empty net.

Met Police made things interesting when they scored on 74 minutes.

Steve Hemmings' attempted headed clearance went backwards and fell nicely for substitute Ian Whitby, who finished with a poked volley from eight yards.

But it was to prove a false dawn, as six minutes from time Brunt scored.

A goal-kick was flicked on by Deacon straight into the midfielder's path and he finished with aplomb from inside the area.

Basingstoke Town Reserves: Mark Zawadski, Simon Herbert, Mark Paterson, Steve Hemmings, Steve Pearce (sub Matt Weston 90mins), Ross Norgate, Ian Dickens, Matt Brunt, Ryan Stephens, Robbie Deacon (sub Darren Spong 88mins), Brendan Vickery (sub Dane Butler 85min). Not used: Michael Watkins, Tita Martins.