Basingstoke Town 3 Maidenhead 2

KEVIN Gibbens capped a man-of-the-match performance with the winning goal in a five-goal thriller at the Camrose yesterday afternoon as Town came from two goals down to beat Maidenhead 3-2.

The midfielder sealed the great comeback with a goal seven minutes into the second half as he smashed the ball into the empty net from 22 yards after Neville Roach had challenged 'keeper Richard Barnard.

Roach, Glenn Howes and Craig McAllister all went close before Scott Tarr pulled off a great save to deny Lawrence Yaku the equaliser 20 minutes from time.

In a four-goal feast of a first half, it was Maidenhead who took the lead after 13 minutes as Yaku and Adrian Allen combined on the edge of the box for Allen to poke the ball past Steve Hemmings before doing the same to Tarr to make it 1-0.

Just three minutes later the same pair caused problems once again, with Hemmings bringing down Allen in the area.

Matt Glynn smashed the resulting penalty into the roof of the net, leaving Tarr no chance.

However, two goals in as many minutes put Town level at the break as the terrible twins of McAllister and Roach struck a goal apiece.

The opening Town effort came on 26 minutes as Andy Cook fouled Efon Elad on the left wing. Alex Ewin sent a cheeky loft into the box, which McAllister headed home via the shoulder of a visiting defender.

It was then the turn of Roach to take centre stage after Orlando Jeffrey stepped on the ball.

Roach ran 30 yards and despite being pushed further away from goal he let fly with a 22-yard shot which flew into the bottom of the net.

Hendon 2 Basingstoke Town 1

HENDON edged this encounter with a narrow victory at Claremont Road in windswept conditions.

Saturday's weather, a far cry from the previous day's sun, dictated the match with neither team able to control the ball on a traditionally hard and bumpy end-of-season surface.

In the 24th minute, Paul Yates forced a save from Town 'keeper Scott Tarr.

Three minutes later, Yates spurned another opportunity, shooting wide from a good position.

Alex Ewin called Hendon 'keeper Gary McCann into action with a long-range effort before the home side went ahead in the 40th minute.

A cross from Dale Binns was headed back across goal by Steve Butler and Eugene Ofori hit an overhead shot which Tarr did well to get a hand to, but could only help into the roof of the net.

After 62 minutes, Binns hit the Town bar with a curling free kick which set up a frantic five-minute spell.

Neville Roach then hit the woodwork before Ofori lobbed just wide 30 seconds later for the home side.

Almost immediately, Town broke away and Roach fired across the Hendon goal where Craig McAllister took advantage of a slip in the defence to finish clinically.

The winner came in the 77th minute when substitute Ricci Crace - on the pitch for just a minute - won the ball following a lack of communication between Tarr and Steve Hemmings, chipping the 'keeper from the edge of the penalty area.

McAllister attempted to restore parity with a fine run and shot, but he was halted by a super stop from McCann.

Binns had a good chance to score a third a minute from full time, but Tarr made a good save.

On the break, Nathan Stamp was thwarted by an equally adept stop by McCann, and with it went Town's hopes of salvaging a point.