Basingstoke Town 2 Harrow Borough 1
BASINGSTOKE Town ended the season on a high with victory over lowly Harrow on Saturday at the Camrose.
Steve Baker in his final game for the home club was made captain for the day and received an excellent ovation before he made way for Rob Cook after 76 minutes.
Town, who looked the better team for long periods, opened the scoring after 11 minutes.
Birthday boy Mark Lisk threaded the ball upfield and a mistake by Nikolaj Lund allowed Craig McAllister to lob the visitors' keeper from 20 yards out.
A minute later, Lund should have made up for his error but his free header missed the target.
Soon after, a nice Matt Hayfield strike from 20 yards went just wide after Sean Gorman touched the ball on to him.
On 28 minutes, Gorman spooned over from six yards after good work by McAllister and the impressive Steve Hemmings.
Town nearly doubled their lead seconds after the break as Gorman just missed from a header by Mark Lisk.
However, they did not have to wait long as a deep Paul Wilkinson corner found Chris Honor at the back post and his goal-bound shot cannoned off the back of Kevin McKenna, leaving Harrow goalkeeper Raven Keet no chance on 52 minutes.
After this, the visitors threw on former Town striker Mark Xavier as they opted for three strikers and this soon produced a result as David Haule pulled a goal back with a low shot from the edge of the area.
After that, it was the home side who had the better chances. Gorman blasted a shot on the turn against the bar and the rebound hit an unaware Hayfield before going wide of the target.
Harrow had a couple of shooting chances, one seeing Kmond Protain hitting the serving hatch of the burger van behind and to the side of the goal.
Town manager Ernie Howe said: "It was nice to finish with a win. It was disappointing we didn't win by more but the conditions did not help us."
The victory meant Basingstoke finished the season in 18th place with 48 points. The promotion battle saw Gravesend beat Bedford 1-0 to finish top, while second finishers Canvey Island were beaten 2-1 at Braintree.
Basingstoke Town: Tarr, Baker (sub Cook 76min), Forbes, Hemmings, Wilkinson, Lisk, Honor (sub Girdler 52min), Howes, Gorman, McAllister, Hayfield. Sub (not used) Foster.
Harrow: Keet, Dyer (sub Xavier 52min), Protin (sub Howell 83min), Lund, Everitt, Hyslop (sub Marney 46min), McKenna, Walters, Lawford, Barina, Haule.
Basingstoke Town Reserves are in Suburban Challenge Shield action on Thursday (7.30pm) at Thatcham Town where they take on Northwood.
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