WINNING football matches, just like losing them, is habit-forming. You either get on a roll or stuck in a rut from which it is often hard to break free.

Basingstoke Town have experienced both sides of that coin so far this season, having embarked on sequences of both unbeaten runs and morale-sapping defeats.

But following the Camrose Blues recent revival, and playing record of four wins from five games, it is the winning habit that manager Ernie Howe is looking for his side to continue when they face Bishop's Stortford tomorrow.

It will be the first time Town have played the Hertfordshire outfit since April 1999 when they beat them 3-1 at the Camrose, and a similar result against a side third from bottom would help Town make further Ryman Premier league inroads.

Boss Howe said: "We are reasonably confident at the moment and it has all come from winning our last few matches. Winning does become a habit and it's one we want to continue against Bishop's Stortford.

"We have looked quite sharp in our games since our enforced break a few weeks back, and we are taking our chances well, Craig McAllister and Alex Ewin especially."

That duo have been in a rich vein of form lately, with 22-year-old McAllister (pictured) netting in the last three consecutive games and 21-year-old Ewin in the last two.

Howe said: "It is nice to see them playing well after becoming what I felt was a little jaded before the break. However, I do not think you can pin-point our improvements to any one particular area of the pitch.

"As a young team, we are learning together all the time.

"We have taken the rough runs with the smooth and it is all good experience for these lads.

"We have won as the same group of players and we have made mistakes and lost as the same group of players.

"Even then, in the games we have lost you cannot say any team has turned us over. It's just been a mistake or little error on our part.

"I think the lads are much stronger for enduring that. They've gone through it all together. I haven't had the personnel to change things around and I think it has worked for us in that regard.

"If we can keep these lads here as a team unit, plus make the few additions we need, we will be in a healthy position with the experience they are getting this season."

On the injury front, Toby Sumner is making good progress following his knee ligament troubles but Glenn Howes may be in danger of missing the visit of Bishop's Stortford because of a sore ankle.

Town from: Tarr, Dickens, Stamp, Foster, Hemmings, Allaway, Howes, Gibbens, McAllister, Roach, Ewin, Ray, Rooke, Graham, Frost, Elad.