County who forced to take the field in The Stoke’s away kit of red and black stripes as both their ‘home’ and ‘away’ kits clashed with the home team kit of yellow and blue. Contrasting badly with amber shorts and socks this was possibly the most garish colour combination the Exiles have ever worn and those with colour blindness must have for once been grateful for their ‘affliction’. Kris Leek replaced the injured Jason Bowen and County had a strong bench to turn to with Richard Evans being rested.    

 

Chances were ‘golden’ in this match and Charlie Griffin took the first one to score his third goal in as many games. Following a period of pressure in and around the home box Craig Hughes lofted a short cross to the far post and strike partner Griffin stabbed the ball home with his second attempt to give the Exiles an early lead.

 

Anthony Storey came closest to levelling but fired wide after a jinking 40 yard run had taken him to the edge of the penalty area. Sam O’Sullivan played a tempting cross behind the home defence but the ball eluded his team mates and drifted out of play for a goal kick. A second goal would have calmed the nerves in a half in which County were the more composed team but they went in with only a single goal lead at the interval.

 

County could not muster a single goal attempt on target in the second period and contented themselves with containing a blunt and ineffective home attack until the late stages when they broke from defence on a number of occasions. Poor passing selection or execution meant that the moves went uncompleted and with only a one goal advantage County were never sure of victory.

 

The Stoke exerted some pressure as the half wore on but only created several half chances with the wind at their backs. Scott Fitzgerald had two good opportunities but shot straight at Jacob Giles with the first and failed to connect with a wind assisted diagonal cross behind the defence for his second. With ten minutes remaining captain John Brough made a great late tackle to deny the unfortunate Fitzgerald as he shaped to shoot from close range for his final effort.

 

The match was blighted by referee Richard Kendall who mystified the crowd by awarding a free kick every time there was any physical contact, and his assistants who constantly made the wrong judgement on marginal offside decisions.

 

This was an unimpressive victory for a County side struggling to find fluency in its play and penetration in attack. However, the points were won and as Basingstoke stare at the ‘trap door’, County have reignited their playoff hopes with the six-pointer away to Bishop’s Stortford looming.    

      

Line Ups:

 

County: Giles, Jenkins, Searle, Davies, Brough (C), Hillier, Leek, Fowler (Simpson 37), Griffin , Hughes, O’Sullivan Subs Not Used: Holdsworth, Edwards, Bassett, Ovendale

Basingstoke: Davies, Dell (Minton 34), Brown (Townsend 88), Watkins, Bristow, Fitzgerald (Gibbs 84), Ray, Storey, Levis , Taylor (C), Warner Subs Not Used: Lodge, Surey

 

Goals:

County: Charlie Griffin (13)

 

Cautions:

Basingstoke: Jason Bristow (foul) and Robert Watkins (foul)

 

Officials:

Referee: Richard Kendall

Assistants: Brian Roberts and Gary Spring  

 

Attendance:

822

 

Conditions:

Dry, sunny and cold, windy

 

Man of the Match:

Reporter’s County Man of the Match: Charlie Griffin

Official Basingstoke Man of the Match: Anthony Storey

 

Match Rating:

1/5