Basingstoke Town: 0 - Havant and Waterlooville: 2
Town were found wanting in a lacklustre display against Hampshire rivals Havant and Waterlooville on Saturday.
The Dragons’ performance was a far cry from earlier in the season when they knocked ’Ville out of the FA Trophy in the replay at Westleigh Park.
Defensive frailties showed again as ’Stoke conceded two poor goals and they have worryingly now conceded 22 goals in the last 11 games, nearly as many as in the first 24 games of the season.
Playing a 4-5-1 formation, it was the visitors who made the early running in a local derby that failed to capture the imagination with a lack of passion from both sides.
Town were without Stuart Lake, who became a father on the morning of the match.
Town keeper Chay Morris was called into action early on, getting a hand to a low shot from Wes Fogden and pushing the ball onto the post, clearing the danger.
David Pratt failed to make the most of a rare chance for the home side but at the other end they were immediately in trouble with Morris in action again, saving from Leon Cashman.
Havant were well on top and a Sammy Igoe cross flashed across goal on the half hour, just requiring a touch.
Town responded and came close to opening the scoring when a great cross from Nathan Smart evaded Pratt and was scrambled away before it fell to Greg Draper.
Disaster struck for Town 10 minutes before half time when ’Ville keeper Aaron Howe unleashed a long clearance that found Manny Williams on the edge of the box, courtesy of a half clearance from Ross Adams.
Williams made a hash of his shot, but luck went the way of the visitors, the ball falling kindly for Fogden, who produced a fine overhead kick to fire his side into the lead.
Five minutes later, Town found themselves two down.
Jay Gasson allowed a ball over the top to bounce and then hit him on the back, allowing Fogden in on goal.
Gasson pulled him back, giving the referee no choice but to award a penalty, and the Town defender was lucky to escape with a yellow card. Williams stepped up to slot home for his side.
Town eventually decided to join the game and came close with Smart firing just over and Draper forcing a save from the outstretched leg of Howe.
Changing shape for the second half, Town started the brighter of the two teams, Draper shooting straight at Howe and Matt Warner’s shot being deflected wide inside the first five minutes.
Gasson almost made amends when he headed just over the bar from a great corner from Warner.
As the Dragons looked to get back into the game, Callum Reynolds headed wide from another Town corner, but the visitors were playing a containing game.
Just after the hour, Steve Ramsey blasted over the bar as the visitors looked to remind Town that they could up a gear if necessary.
The home side made changes, with Delano Sam-Yorke introduced for Warner and Matt Pattison making way for former academy player Simon Dunn.
But there was no way back for the home side. Fodgen and Williams had been a thorn in the Town defence all afternoon and it was the latter who nearly added a third.
Matt Finlay let him in and he turned inside Ross Adams before slicing badly wide.
Two late long throws caused the visitors concern, but the home side failed to capitalise and, although producing an improvement on the first half, Havant saw out the remaining minutes and the poor run of form continues for the Dragons.
With home games approaching against Ebbsfleet on Saturday and Maidenhead on Monday, manager Frank Gray has the task of re-building his side’s confidence and ensuring that Town do not continue with the mistakes that are proving costly.
