Basingstoke Town ensured that their thrilling Isthmian League South Central title race with Walton & Hersham would go down to the final day, with an entertaining 3-2 win on the channel island.

The reverse fixture against Guernsey saw ‘Stoke storm to a thumping 8-0 victory at Winklebury.

The Green Lions had been much improved since the December battering, however, and their Step 4 survival had been recently confirmed, after an away draw at South Park. That result extended Guernsey's unbeaten run to a fifth consecutive game - which included a goalless draw with league leaders Walton & Hersham.

Basingstoke attacked the game early and made the perfect start at Footes Lane, with academy graduate and captain D'Andre Brown putting his side ahead inside four minutes.

Marcus Johnson-Schuster prodded a ball forward to Brad Wilson, who nodded down for midfield man Brown to drive at the Guernsey defence, before firing a shot on goal - which beat Josh Addison after a deflection off the left-hand post. (0-1)

The lead didn't last long, though, as Sam Murray equalised for the hosts just 10 minutes later.

An innovative free-kick set Ross Allen away down the right flank. Allen slid a ball into the box, which went looping into the air after a deflection off Ben Cook. Murray was alive in the box for likely his most straight-forward goal of the season - heading into an empty net from point-blank range. (1-1)

The leveller saw the momentum of the game swing slightly in Guernsey's favour, but top scorer Brad Wilson was on hand to slide Basingstoke back into the lead on 25 minutes. Paul Hodges broke away down the right wing, and drew Addison off his goal line, before tapping back across to Wilson - who made no mistake in bagging his third goal in two games. (1-2)

'Stoke remained ahead for the first 20 minutes of the second period, before Guernsey’s all-time record goalscorer Ross Allen scored their second equaliser of the afternoon. Kieran Mahon spotted the No10 unmarked in the box and swung an excellent left-footed cross in, before Allen chested down and calmly guided the ball past Strudley. (2-2)

With the pressure piled on Basingstoke, given Walton had convincingly dispatched of Southall the day prior, they managed to find what turned out to be a 70th minute-winner.

After a somewhat scrappy piece of play on the edge of the Green Lions' penalty area, Brad Wilson managed to keep his composure as he dinked a ball through to Paul Hodges.

The January signing cleverly spotted the goalkeeper's position, and so lifted the ball over Addison into the bottom-right corner. (2-3)

The huge number of traveling supporters were sent into pandemonium.

The result signified a vital away win, which sees Basingstoke Town go into the final day of the regular league season level on points (86) with league leaders Walton & Hersham.

'Stoke host South Park at Winklebury on Saturday, April 22, whilst the Swans head to Thatcham Town.

One side will gain automatic promotion, whilst the other will be left to fight it out with Marlow, Hanworth Villa and Northwood in the play-offs.