Basingstoke Town 0 Canvey Island 4

BASINGSTOKE Town were given a lesson in finishing on Saturday by title-chasing Canvey Island.

On the face of it, both sides had the same amount of chances but by the end of the game the scoreline read 4-0 in Canvey's favour.

Frustrated Town boss Ernie Howe said: "I don't think we deserved to be beaten 4-0 but full credit to them. They stuck away their chances and we did not."

He added: "I don't think we have had as many chances as today since the game at Dagen-ham that we lost in the FA Cup."

The home side, already minus top defender Jason Bristow, suffered another blow before kick-off when Paul Wilkinson - who so superbly filled in for him last week - was ruled out due to illness.

Howe said: "I think we missed Jason and Paul at the back and I don't think Canvey would have had so much joy in the air."

In front of 546, their second biggest home league crowd of the season, Basingstoke nearly went ahead as Mike Davis hit the post after just one minute.

Canvey quickly replied and only a mis-kick from Neil Gregory prevented him from scoring with the goal begging.

The visitors opened their account on 20 minutes as a long ball from Steve Tilson was missed by Don Forbes and Gregory blasted home with a deflected shot off Chris Honor.

The lead was doubled on 40 minutes as Stimson found Chris Duffy clear on the right and he pulled the ball back for Canvey top scorer Lee Boylan to slot home into the empty net.

Worse was to follow for Town as two minutes into injury time a John Kennedy cross was headed out by Mark Lisk to the feet of Duffy, who slammed the ball home from close range.

At the start of the second half, Tinoi Christie replaced Lisk, who was suffering with a dead leg after a tackle in the first-half.

Despite being 3-0 down, the home side tried to get themselves back into the contest and had four good opportunities after the break.

The first came on 52 minutes as a Glenn Howes flick put in Craig McAllister, but 'keeper Ashley Harrison pushed his shot away.

Soon after, a great overhead kick from Stuart Girdler in the centre circle found Jason Eaton but he was denied by a great stop by the feet of Harrison.

On 70 minutes, a header on by Eaton sent McAllister away, but this time the legs of Harrison came to the rescue.

Four minutes later, Canvey completed the scoring as Danny Bolt's cross found Gregory at the back post and his cut back was drilled into the net by substitute Spencer Knight.

Town had one last chance, when substitute Sean Gorman's cross found Eaton, but his shot hit the visitors 'keeper and went over the bar.

Despite winning 4-0, there were few celebrations for Canvey when the news came through that their title rivals Gravesend and Northfleet had won 2-0 at Braintree. With two games left the Kent side still have the edge in the promotion race since they hold a two point advantage.

Basingstoke: Tarr, Baker, Forbes, Honor, Girdler, Lisk (Christie 46), Howes, Cook (Foster 72), McAllister, Eaton, Davis (Gorman 72)

Canvey Island: Harrison, Kennedy, Duffy, Chenery, Ward, Bolt, Tilson, Stimson, Gregory (Cobb 74), Boylan (Vaughan 72), Parmenter (Knight 62).

Basingstoke Town Reserves are at home on Wednesday night (7.45pm) against Walton in the quarter-final of the Suburban League Challenge Shield.