Basingstoke Town find themselves lying in sixth place in the Ryman League Premier Division table this morning after recording back-to-back 1-0 victories against Hitchin and Hampton & Richmond over the Christmas weekend.

It is Stoke's highest placing of the season and, with table-toppers Aldershot going down 1-0 to second-placed Farnborough yesterday, the results leaves them just nine points off the pace with games in hand over both their North Hampshire rivals.

Dominic Naylor was the hero of Saturday's win at Hitchin. Jason Bristow's long throw-in created panic in the home defence and the half-cleared ball found Naylor on the edge of the box from where he drilled in the 34th minute decider.

And one goal was enough for Stoke at home to Hampton & Richmond yesterday with the all-important goal arriving after just 11 minutes.

In trying to clear a left-wing cross, a Hampton defender completely missed his kick to hand Sean Gorman a belated Christmas present from barely six yards out.

Hampton & Richmond were reduced to ten men early in the second half when Leroy Griffiths was red-carded for throwing a punch at Jason Bristow.

Gorman saw his effort disallowed for a foul on the keeper after he pounced on a weak back pass and Tim Sills suffered a similar fate when the keeper slipped following another poor back pass.