Another away defeat for the Dragons, but the scoreline was a cruel reflection on a battling Basingstoke display, and inspite of dominating the second period, they had left themselves with a little too much to do after conceding two first-half goals.
In a breezy opening at Woodside Park, both sides began in direct style, but the tactic certainly favoured Bishops Stortford, who enjoyed some early pressure with the Dragons unable to control the ball for any period of time.
Jack Midson had the first opening of the afternoon, playing a neat one-two on the edge of the box, escaping the attentions of the returning Jason Bristow to create the space for a shot, which he only managed to scuff along the floor at Stuart Searle. At the other end Andrew Ottleys break down the middle and shot from 25 yards provided the Bishops Stortford goalkeeper James Hussey with a routine save.
As the game settled down, both sides finally began to pass the ball on the surface. Matt Warner and Ottley were more effective than of late, running at the full backs, and from a Warner cross, James Taylor helped on to Mark Peters, who looped a header onto the roof of the net. Ottley then set up Taylor on the edge of the box, but the striker blasted into the side netting as the angle grew increasingly acute.
The home side still looked dangerous though against some uncertain defending by the visitors, and Midson forced a sharp save out of Searle from Ashley Fullers pass. On 21 minutes, they grabbed a breakthrough on a quick break. This time it was Midson who turned provider, squaring for midfielder Max Porter to glide the ball inside the far corner past the despairing dive of the Basingstoke keeper.
The Dragons responded immediately, and it was only the shins of Paul Goodacre on the goalline which denied James Taylors volley at the far post from another Warner centre. They continued to press as the interval approached, but were caught by the sucker punch in the last minute of the half. Ashley Fuller profited from a lack of coordination in the visitors offside trap to run onto an excellent through ball and drill a low shot under Searle, who would have been disappointed not to make the save.
There was still time for Francis Quarm to make his trademark bursting run from midfield, but his strike from 23 yards was always rising.
The second half saw Francis Vines side make a change in personnel with Neville Roach replacing Mark Peters up front. The new striker certainly made a difference, as the visitors went on to dominate play after the break. Within a minute of the restart, Taylor rose to meet Ottleys cross, but Rob Gillman blocked on the line. Moments later Quarm latched onto a half-clearance, but his low shot flashed a yard wide of Husseys right hand upright.
Fuller gave Searle a rare test with a curling free-kick from 30 yards, but the keeper was equal to the effort on this occasion.
Basingstoke continued to press for a goal, but luck was not on their side. A long clearance from Searle saw hesitation in the home defence, but although Hussey dropped the ball under pressure from Taylor, Gillman was on-hand to spare his keepers blushes. On the hour mark, there was double controversy when Gillman shoved Taylor from behind in the box when Ottley and Roach combined to set him through on goal. The referee Francis waved the justifiable penalty appeals away though, and Taylor was left licking his wounds yet again soon afterwards, finding the back of the net from Matt Warners deep free-kick, as he rose highest to head home past Hussey, only to be denied by an unjustified offside flag.
The failure to convert chances at one end was threatening to come back to haunt them, and Richard Howell profited from a stray pass by Quarm to run through on goal. His shot beat the advancing Searle, but clipped the top of the crossbar from 25 yards.
Back at the other end it was business as usual. Taylor frustrated for the third time by a goalline clearance. This time Husseys legs denied the striker's header from another excellent centre.
Having failed to heed the warning signs, Basingstoke were torn apart on the counter attack with players committed forward, and Howell squared to the unmarked Fuller to double his tally for the afternoon and effectively seal the contest on 85 minutes sliding home at the far post.
Inspite of the killer blow, the Dragons refused to give in, and Taylor almost caught out Hussey with an astute chip, which drifted inches over the bar as the keeper backpedalled.
Stortford Substitute Anton Innocent then took advantage of a poor pass in midfield to run through on goal, but opted to shoot instead of squaring for teammate Lloyd Blackman, who was in acres of space in the centre. Searle made the save at his near post.
In the last minute, there was finally a reward for the travelling fans. Warners cross met by Joe Harris spectacular scissor-kick which flew into the far corner of the net to give Basingstoke a consolation goal - their first in over 280 minutes of football. There was even time for the luckless Taylor to hit the woodwork in stoppage time - Warner again the provider with a measured left wing cross, which the striker headed past Hussey, only to be denied this time by the frame of the goal. |
