It was full steam ahead from the Dragons on Saturday as they were all fired up and stormed into the next round of the E.on sponsored FA cup with a 4-0 victory over Didcot Town at Loop Meadow. The Railwaymen huffed and puffed but it was the Dragons who settled and opened the scoring after 31 minutes, and from there on the visitors were away and racing down the track and the home side were unable to put the brakes upon them. The prize for the Camrose side is a plum home tie against AFC Wimbledon, currently one point off top place in the Blue Square Bet Conference national.
They say a week is a long time in politics but two weeks is even longer in football. A fortnight ago as Town struggled to a 2-2 draw at Bristol Manor Farm fans were calling for the manager’s head but on Saturday Town notched up their fourth straight win, scoring 11 goals in the process and keeping clean sheets along the way netting 12 thousand pounds in prize money. Town forward Greg Draper is in seventh heaven as he scored his seventh goal in cup competitions this season.
Town would have seen this as a potential “banana skin”, once again drawn away from home against opposition from a lower league and the first fifteen minutes gave no indication as to the end result but after the first quarter of an hour the visitors took control and never gave their hosts a look in from that point, a classy performance from the visitors. Town went with a 4-4-2 formation and good news for ‘Stoke was the performance of Matt Pattison, his best of the season so far, and if he can continue like this Town will be a match for anyone.
Manager Frank Gray went with the same starting eleven that had taken to the field at Eastleigh the week before. Town could have taken the lead on ten minutes when Greg Draper failed to make the most of a mistake by home ‘keeper Sam Warrell. A couple of minutes later the home side had what was to be their best chance of the game. A fine ball from Richard Witt opened up the Dragons defence and Mark Draycott drove the ball goalward from close range, Town shotstopper Chris Tardif making a fine save with his legs. After a brisk start the game went into a dull period but Town found another gear and Draper and Pratt went close to opening the scoring.
The deadlock was broken just after the half hour when Stuart Lake found Matt Warner down the left and his low cross found Pratt inside the box who duly found the back of the net. It only took the Dragons four minutes to double the lead and it was goal provider turned goal scorer as Warner found himself in a great position and converted Draper’s knock down from the edge of the box. The regulator was now full open and the home side could do nothing to stop the rampant visitors. Just as the hosts were looking for half time to recuperate the killing blow was delivered with the goal of the game. Jidi Ogunbote did well on the left crossing for the ever lively Pratt who cleverly flicked the ball on and Pattison launched himself at the ball heading home an unstoppable effort at the far post.
Half- time: Didcot Town 0 Basingstoke Town 3
Town’s first half performance had knocked the stuffing out of the home side and, crucially, the home fans and all Town had to do was contain and prevent an early goal to give Didcot hope. To their credit they did not throw the towel in and came out with the intent to claw their way back but could not break the Dragons down and gain any control. Town were showing a ruthless streak and were not letting up and still the chances came. Warrell did well to block another Draper effort and it was looking as though the striker would not get on the scoresheet. Morgan Williams prevented a Ross Adams effort and Pattison went just wide. Didcot improved in the second half, enjoying more possession, but it was the visitors who continued to create the chances and looked the most likely to score.
Tardif was required to make a good save to deny Josh Huggins but mid way through the second half it was the visitors who added a fourth and any slim hope of a home revival was now firmly in the ashes. Again, Pattison was instrumental in proceedings with a fine run before setting up Warner and his low cross was coolly finished by Draper who can’t stop scoring in the Cup competitions. Steve Laidler and Gary Frewen were introduced for the last 20 minutes for Ogunbote and Warner and there was time for Jahson Downes to come on for the last 10 minutes for Draper. Town did not seem satisfied with four and were on the hunt for more goals. Pratt saw another effort blocked but Downes provided trickery and further torment for the home defenders in the final minutes, and was desperately unlucky not to be on the score sheet. The striker saw a fine effort saved by the home ‘keeper and then he fired inches over the crossbar. Showing super skills he put through Pratt but Warrell made another fine save to keep the score at four.
Town are rewarded with their first home tie in two seasons and AFC Wimbledon will provide by far the toughest of opposition so far this season but if they can put in a good performance against League leaders Bromley in between this will take the Dragons into the 4th qualifying round game in good shape.
Town: Tardif, Smart, Finlay, Adams, Gasson, Lake, Pattison, Ogunbote (sub Laidler 66min), Draper (sub Downes 81 min), Pratt, Warner (sub Frewen 70 min). Subs: (not used) Rice, Williamson, Allen.
