Levis 1st half v Newport
Taken by - Daryl Basingstoke Town Football Club Photographer
Pictures from the match
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IT wasnt the wide-margin drubbing that prompted the dismissal of Ernie Howe about a year ago, but manager Francis Viness job must surely be hanging by a thread after Saturdays one-nil home defeat by Newport County.
With Hayes and Weston-super-Mare both winning Basingstoke Town are now staring relegation in the face.
And the stats in the drop zone since September 16th, ten home defeats, including the last three home games, and five and quarter hours of football since the side last scored a goal at home make grim reading.
With reluctant London commuter Joe Bruce, reportedly a progressively disruptive dressing room influence, released from his contract to join Welling on a free, Vines opted for a back four of Steve Dell (who departed with a calf injury in the 34th-minute to be replaced by debutant Jason Minton, who acquitted himself well), Jason Bristow, Danny Brown, having his first start since the autumn, and Robbie Watkins on the left.
Ben Surey was benched, leaving David Ray to partner debutant Anthony Storey in central midfield, with Cristian Levis wide right and James Taylor and Scott Fitzgerald up front.
It was a formation, which had come in for criticism in the past (Ray and Levis in the opposite wrong positions and no pace up front), and nothing, in truth, changed on Saturday.
Storey had a bright enough debut, though he faded in the second half, and brought an invention and sense of urgency to the centre of the park that had been lacking.
But, with the tireless Matt Warner, for once, below par, Taylor unable to get into the game, and Levis looking disinterested in his flank role and drifting aimlessly to the centre, the lack of width and general cohesion was all too apparent.
In the 13th minute, Brown and Watkins (another looking disinterested) failed to deal with a corner and Charlie Griffin opened the scoring for the visitors, beating Clint Davies, making his debut for the Club after Stuart Searle went down with food poisoning.
In truth, Basingstoke never really looked like equalising, though Vines, after the enforced substitution of Dell, left it until the 84th and 87th minutes before belatedly bringing on Carl Gibbs and Luke Townsend for Watkins and Brown respectively.
Scott Fitzgerald had a half chance to end his barren spell since joining the club, but was blocked by Newport defender Ian Hillier, leaving Basingstoke now five points from safety with just seven games to play.
Basingstoke (4-4-2): Davies; Dell (Minton, 34), Bristow, Brown (Townsend, 87), Watkins (Gibbs 84): Levis, Ray Storey, Warner; Fitzgerald, Taylor. Subs not used: Lodge, Surey.
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