Braintree 0, Basingstoke Town 1

BASINGSTOKE Town taught Braintree a valuable lesson in football on Saturday - if you don't take your chances you will be punished.

Craig McAllister once again being the Camrose-based side's hero scored the winner after 71 minutes in a 1-0 victory.

Town manager Ernie Howe made one change to the side that drew away on Tuesday at Hayes with Neville Stamp returning to the back line and Ricky Allaway dropped to the subs' bench.

The first effort of notable quality occurred on 19 minutes when Matt Warner's long throw-in was crossed in by Neville Stamp and home goalkeeper Paul Rutherford first gathered and then dropped the ball allowing Neville Roach to lob the 'keeper, but his blushes were saved as David Culverhouse was on-hand to clear the ball off the line.

The home side produced a good move on 35 minutes but this was ended by Jason Bristow bringing down Oliver Backwell just outside the area.

The home fans, and the bench alike, were screaming for Bristow to be sent-off, the referee's decision was delayed as both players received treatment, before Bristow was given a yellow card - which was greeted with a chorus of boos.

McAllister had a hatful of chances in the first period, but his best came on 39 minutes as he latched onto a pass from Roach, who had cut the home defence in half.

McAllister tried to lob the advancing 'keeper from 16 yards, but it went just wide of the left-hand post.

Braintree came out of the blocks the quicker after the break and were unfortunate not to score early on.

A cross from the right flank by Kallam Mooniaruck fell to Victor Asomberg, his snapshot on goal was deflected into the path of Lloyd Opara, but the striker missed the ball from three yards out.

When the clock had ticked onto 65 minutes, Braintree sub Craig Harvey wasted a glorious chance as he side-footed straight at Town goalkeeper Scott Tarr, completely unmarked from 16 yards out.

Opara, who only signed on loan from Barnet this week, missed two more excellent opportunities in the space of two minutes.

First he had a one-on-one with Tarr, but the visiting 'keeper blocked the shot. A minute later the striker was again through one-on-one and this time he skipped past Tarr only to then miss the empty net as he blasted his shot off the crossbar.

Basingstoke were not about to let this gift go unpunished and on a counterattack Town sub Alex Ewin played McAllister in down the right and from there he buried the chance.

Then were two more chances, one for each side, before the final whistle.

Town sub John Dyer was brought down by Oliver Blackwell with a late tackle, but the referee, Mr Ives, cast all the appeals for a penalty aside.

It was left to Opara to end another miserable day as he shook off Bristow to get into the penalty area and then a combination of good goalkeeping and blind panic from the striker allowed Tarr to pick up the ball from his feet.

Basingstoke: Tarr, Surey, Neville Stamp, Hemmings, Bristow, Ray, Nathan Stamp (Alex Ewin 59 min), Elad, McAllister, Roach, Warner (Dyer 75min). Subs (not used) Allaway, Dickens, Weait.