Basingstoke Town 1 Gravesend and Northfleet 4

DESPITE taking an early lead through Tim Sills, Town were unable to hold on for a result against the Essex high-flyers.

Down to the bare bones with seven players still unavailable through injury, the Camrose Blues were over-run by a powerful and slick Gravesend side who scored three times in the second half to keep the pressure on Canvey Island at the top of the Ryman League.

It had all started so differently however. An eighth minute long throw from Chris Honor on the near touchline sparked a goal-mouth melee.

The ball broke to Sills six yards out and he fired in first time with the aid of the right hand upright.

But just four minutes later, Gravesend equalised with a goal that had more than a suspicion of off-side about it.

Jimmy Jackson put a ball over the top of the defence and Paul Booth held off a last ditch challenge from Honor to poke the ball past the oncoming Scott Tarr, who got hand to it but failed narrowly to turn it away.

Gravesend then began to dominate proceedings and in the 30th minute, Town were rescued by the post.

A quick throw caught Mark Lisk and Mike Davis out of position and Robert Owen then cut inside Don Forbes. His cross found Booth unmarked, who headed past Tarr.

But it struck the 'keeper's left-hand post and rebounded onto the line, and Tarr was able to get back and collect.

The second half was all Gravesend, who incisively ripped through Town in midfield especially with some excellent movement and passing.

It was the 63rd minute when they scored via a superb crossfield move.

Craig Wilkins, Darren Smith and Booth spread play to the near side. Booth then crossed and Jason Bristow's headed clearance fell perfectly for Jackson.

His left foot strike rifled in from 25 yards past Tarr into the top corner.

Now behind, Town too often resorted to long balls that the Gravesend defence mopped up with ease.

Two goals within a minute ended the match as a contest.

Lisk's attempted right foot clearance sliced horribly to Che Stedhart on the edge of the Town box and the substitute beat Forbes and Bristow to get in a left foot shot that found Tarr's bottom right corner.

It then got even worse when Smith was allowed to progress into the area following a midfield run.

Tracking back with him, Toby Sumner hesitated in making his challenge and when he eventually did, just six yards out, he only succeeded in squaring to Jackson, who didn't miss to grab his second goal.

The ever-reliable Scott Tarr produced some magnificent saves to keep it 1-4, but a Town comeback was never on the cards.

Speaking afterwards a glum Ernie Howe said: "The result sums up our month. Once again we get our noses in front but fail to stay there.

"We had yet another injury on Saturday when Wilko came off, and we had to do the best we could with the personnel out there tonight.

"We can't compete against sides like Gravesend without our best players, and they're all in the treatment room.

"Our passing was poor, you've got to keep the ball to create chances, and too often we just pumped it forward with long balls.

"We keep getting knocked confidence wise but we have got to stick together and focus on turning things around."