Yeading 0, Basingstoke Town 4

FRANCIS Vines enjoyed watching Basingstoke Town hand out a 4-0 thrashing to Yeading and he told his players he now expects them to maintain the stan-dards set in this comprehen-sive win.

Vines' debut match in charge as Basingstoke Town manager went the way of so many football matches when a new man takes control.

The players, who have been to blame for the run of six defeats in seven league games with dismal displays that led to the departure of Ernie Howe, suddenly found their application and ability.

Roared on by a large contingent of Town supporters, who made the trip to Middlesex to make it clear they would be backing Vines and the team, they set about a poor Yeading side with verve.

There were more efforts and shots on goal in the first 20 minutes than there had been in the previous three fixtures.

The only changes made to per-sonnel was the introduction of newcomers Jamie Gosling and Giuseppe Sole, to the midfield and forward lines respectively.

Although they had the better of the opening exchanges, Town had goalkeeper Stuart Searle to thank for keeping them level when he thwarted Yeading's Steve Wales in a one-on-one point-blank-range stop on 25 minutes.

It was the lively 18-year-old Sole, signed on-loan from Woking, who won the free-kick from which Town went ahead on 33 minutes, having been brought down by full-back Darious Charles.

Left-winger Lewis Cook went across to the right channel to hit a dead-ball 25-yards out that, backed by strong wind, caused Yeading goalkeeper Luke Blackmore to make a fine save diving to his left.

But he could only tip it on to the upright and, following up to head home when it bounced back out, was James Taylor.

Taylor added his second just six minutes later when he took advan-tage of an awful mistake by the goalkeeper, who spilled Cook's deflected right-foot shot, to pounce and net from close range.

Things then got even better for Town when, just before half-time, David Ray struck a thunderous left-foot volley through a crowd of bodies after Yeading failed to clear a Town corner properly.

The game was won, but Sole served notice he will be an acquis-ition of stature with his superbly-taken goal on 50 minutes.

He was fed by Ray, who saw his run across the defence and passed. Sole gathered, outpaced right-back Bobby Behzadi and fired a left-foot drive that flew into the top-left corner.

Yeading made three substitutions to try and get back into the game, to no avail, although Searle had to be at his best to deny Jeff Gould-ing's 28-yard drive, and captain Nevin Saroya's header from a rare Yeading corner.

Vines ordered his players to acknowledge the fans after the final whistle, which they did to great applause.

His verdict on the game after-wards was that he was pleased with the first half and especially the goals scored by Ray and Sole, but felt the team eased off somewhat in the second half.

And with Carshalton and New-port winning, it was a vital win as the club bids to secure Nationwide South status.

"We need six points and we have got three of those," said Vines. "Now we have to make sure we get the other three next weekend against Maidenhead."

But while there was joy and relief over the result among the Town faithful, it was hard not to ask where the sort of commitment produced by the same set of players had been over the last month. For, had they shown it then, the club would not be around the bottom of the league and the board would not have had to get rid of Howe.

Basingstoke Town: Stuart Searle, Lee Molyneaux, Neville Stamp, Jason Bristow, Wayne Heath, Ben Surey, David Ray, Jamie Gosling (sub Jerome Maledon 90min), Giuseppe Sole, James Taylor, Lewis Cook. Subs (not used): Steve Hemmings, Nick Beasant, Ricci Dolan, Andy Smallpiece.

First published: Monday, April 3, 2006