Bishop's Stortford 3 Basingstoke Town 1

BASINGSTOKE Town crashed out of the Bryco Cup at the hands of Bishop's Stortford on Tuesday evening, writes Ian Trodd.

The kick-off was delayed five minutes due to traffic problems. Town arrived and warmed up quickly before and, with the game just a minute old, they threatened to open the scoring.

A hooked ball over the Stortford defence by Steve Hemmings found Neville Roach and his 18-yard volley was beaten away by Shaun O'Neil in the home goal.

In a scrappy first-half the next real effort of notable quality occurred on 20 minutes. Roach broke through the centre of the field and his acute lob over the home defence found Sean Gorman, making his first start of the season due to Craig McAll-ister's absence through illness.

The striker was just gearing up to shoot from 10 yards when Al-James Hannigan slid in to block the effort.

The deadlock was broken on 31 minutes, when Glen Southam was brought down in the area by Hemmings. Southam sent Tarr the wrong way with the penalty.

Tarr then saved Town's skin on 41 minutes as he dived bravely at the feet of Russell Williamson.

On the verge of half-time, Town pulled themselves back into the tie as Roach held up the ball within the centre circle and, despite being fouled, he managed to hook the ball to the right wing and Alex Ewin.

The midfielder raced to the by-line and crossed an excellent low ball back to the advancing Roach who finished comfortably under the keeper from six yards out.

Nine minutes into the second-half, Stortford deservedly retook the lead. A good run and cross from Freddie Hyatt down the left flank fell to the head of Hannigan. His header was saved from point blank range by Tarr, but the rebound found Southam, who made no mistake from 15 yards.

Gorman missed a couple of chances for Town before the home side completed the scoring on 82 minutes as Vinnie John outpaced and outsmarted Hemmings on the left wing, his low cross into the six-yard area beat Tarr and Trevor Paul had the easy job of slotting the ball home, despite the last ditch attempt of Kevin Gibbens (pictured).

Manager Ernie Howe blamed the three-hour journey to the ground, which cost his side a full warm-up.

He said: "Every time we have been caught like this, we haven't competed. We got away with it against Ford, but tonight we have been affected.

"Players are creatures of habit, they have set routines they like to follow. I'm not using it as an excuse, but it hasn't helped us one bit."

Another factor that didn't help was Craig McAllister informing Howe on the coach he couldn't play, due to flu.

Howe said: "Of course we are going to miss the top scorer in the league. His partnership with Roachy is superb, but at least it gave Sean Gorman his first full 90 minutes since coming back.

"I am more frustrated than disappointed tonight with our performance. Circumstances haven't helped, but you have to accept that happens in football."

Town: Tarr, Dickens, Stamp, Gibbens, Hemmings, Allaway, Rooke (sub Howes 59 mins), Elad, Gorman, Roach, Ewin. Subs (not used): McAllister, Lyttle, Ray.