Town win again

QUESTIONS continue to be asked of Ernie Howe's young Basingstoke Town side this season, but time and again they are answering them.

The visit of third place St Albans City to the Camrose on Saturday presented Town with a real test, yet it was one they passed with flying colours.

Once the tentative early exchanges had been put aside, the match turned into an enthralling contest between two very able teams.

Attacks at pace, slick passing and physical battles in midfield were the hallmarks of this top-of-the-table clash.

But playing with confidence, and youthful exuberance running throughout the side, Town had the composure to weather City's breaks and launch the counterattacks that won them the match.

Plaudits will once again go to Neville Roach and Craig McAllister for the goals that won this game.

Their partnership is certainly lethal, but as a whole the team was superb and took to the job in hand both collectively and as individuals.

Ian Dickens never put a foot wrong as centre-half to reduce the loss of the banned Steve Hemmings, while David Ray, in his first game as right back, was similarly impressive.

It wasn't lost on their manager. Howe was delighted with his charges and displayed it by leaping onto the pitch like a schoolboy after each Town goal.

He said afterwards: "It was such a pleasing performance, and from everybody concerned. Young David and Ian have been outstanding in new positions, and of course, Roachy and Macca have done the business up front again.

"Initially, I didn't feel we were showing enough belief we could do it, but we progressed as the game went on, and each of our goals were very well taken.

"It is the pace we have that is our real threat. When they equalised there was a period when I thought the game was heading for a draw, but we have players who can create those little pieces of skill and moments that change the game in our favour."

At the forefront of those moments were Efon Elad and Roach.

A crucial goal just before half-time saw both combine brilliantly to put Town ahead.

Elad's persistence in midfield created the space for him to feed Roach, who's run along the City back-line was perfectly timed. From a difficult angle and at pace, he threaded the ball over on-rushing Richard Wilmot into the 'keeper's far right corner.

City's equaliser on 50 minutes was disappointing from a Town perspective. Derek Brown was given a free header from six yards to nod Rob Kean's free-kick home.

But 20 minutes later Town re-took the lead with the move of the match. Ray pressurised former Town player Dominic Naylor into losing possession, and breaking at pace, Elad then slipped a pass through to Roach out on the right flank.

His low centre across the six yard box was met by McAllister, stealing in front of the City defence to net powerfully.

City's attempts to get back into it were ably repelled and Town went looking for the third goal, which came at the death.

Max Rooke was the beneficiary of McAllister's cheeky flick and broke forward. His attempted lob from 20 yards forced Wilmot to parry, and Roach was on hand to tap in and secure the three points that lifts Town up to fifth place.

Town: Tarr, Dickens, Stamp, Gibbens, Ray, Allaway, Ewin, Elad, McAllister, Roach, Rooke. Not used: Howes, Gorman, Layton, Frost, Anderson.

Man-of-the-match: Efon Elad

Attendance: 387