County fielded an unchanged line-up from the opening day draw at Fisher Athletic and the crowd was pleased to see recovering long term injury victims Paul Cochlin, Lee Jenkins and Tony Pennock in the stands supporting their team-mates.

 
County again took an early lead. Craig Hughes turned his defender on the by-line and squared for Julian Alsop to crash the ball home from close range on his home debut. Sam O'Sullivan was seeing plenty of the ball on the left flank and from his penetrating run Craig Hughes was foiled from doubling the lead by a last ditch defensive interception. The visitors could not break down the home defence and County scored the second goal their enterprising play deserved on the half hour. A huge downfield kick from the hands of Mark Ovendale was headed backwards over the defence and the predatory Craig Hughes stole in to beat Ashley Jones with ease.

 

County began the second half as they had ended the first and sealed their victory within seven minutes of the restart. From a cleared corner Jason Bowen returned an inswinging cross which Hughes deftly headed onwards and in the far corner of the net passed the static Jones. Basingstoke enjoyed their best spell of the match despite the scoreline and could have reduced the arrears had it not been for wayward finishing from substitute Mark Peters. Peters first forced Ovendale into a one handed save and then chipped the ball wide of the far post with the goal at his mercy having beaten the offside trap. Peters completed a miserable night for the visitors blasting a penalty high over the bar, the referee having spotted a handball by Jason Bowen as County tried to clear their lines. County woke from their short sleep and forced the pace in the closing minutes, Matt Green being unlucky to see his toe-poke passed Jones hit the post having forced off his marker.        

 
County now look to build on their promising start to the season with a home fixture with fancied Havant and Waterlooville on Saturday. 

  
Line-ups
County: Ovendale, Thomas, Searle, Davies (Collier 83), Brough (C), Hillier, Bowen, Williams, Alsop, Hughes (Green 74), O'Sullivan (Toppar 88) Subs not used: Giles, Prosser
Basingstoke: Jones, M Ottley, Olayinka, Bristow (C), Dolan, Surey, Ray (A Otley 74), Bruce (Howell 88), Roach (Peters 56), Taylor, Warner  Subs not used: Wright, Brown
 
Scorers
County: Alsop (5), Hughes (31 and 52)
 
Officials
Referee: R Ganfield (Weston)
Assistants: K Morris (Hereford), E Hunt (Bristol)
 
Attendance 928
 
County Man of the Match
Sponsor's Choice: Sam O'Sullivan

Reporter's Choice: Craig Hughes

 

Match Rating

3/5