We managed to put behind us our 6-0 drubbing at Cambridge as we recorded a comfortable 4-1 win over Basingstoke Town here at The Hotel on Saturday.

With only one recognised senior striker in the squad manager Colin McBride continued with his ploy of playing central defender Richard Goddard up-front along side Steve Harper. It was Goddard who was to prove a thorn in the side of the Basingstoke defence as he hassled and bustled for most of the ninety minutes.  It did not take long for us to get into our stride as we took the lead in the eighth minute.  David Collis played a long ball up to Goddard.  Goddard then crossed to the unmarked Garry Cross who was able to pick his spot and fire past Liam Castle in the Basingstoke goal.  The visitors equalised in the 26^th minute.

James Taylor’s shot was too strong for Glen Knight who managed to get both hands on the ball but was unable to hold on to it and Ashman Holgate had the simple task of pushing the ball into the empty net.  On the half hour we were back in the lead.  Goddard played the ball down the right to Harper. Harper outpaced the Basingstoke defence and as Castle rushed from his line Harper’s perfectly judged shot was over the keeper and into the back of the net. Five minutes after the restart Taylor wasted a good opportunity to level the scores as he put a good chance wide.  In the 55^th minute we went two up and it was the Collis – McFarlane that did the damage.  McFarlane looping his header over Castle from a long range Collis free kick. On 62 minutes we put the result beyond doubt as Goddard got the goal he deserved to make it 4-1. Mark Janney played the ball through the middle to Goddard who went on to shoot past Castle in a one on one situation much to the delight of his team mates.  Right on time Basingstoke substitute Ben Wright hit the post when it seemed much easier to score, but by then Basingstoke were a well beaten side.