Bristow: Draws are no good to us now (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Bristow: Draws are no good to us now

10:00am Thursday 7th February 2013 in Sport By John Boyman

BASINGSTOKE Town manager Jason Bristow admits that draws are of little use to his side in the battle to escape the Blue Square Bet South relegation zone.

The Camrose club looked set to record just their second away win of the season at Dorchester Town on Tuesday night. Goals from Stuart Lake and Simon Dunn put them two goals up after just nine minutes but it was not to be as the hosts fought back to draw the game 2-2.

A win on Tuesday would have lifted Town up to 15th in the table – but dropping two points means that Basingstoke remain in the relegation zone on goal difference.

Next up for Town is a trip to Bromley, another of the 15 clubs embroiled in a fascinating relegation battle – and Bristow says that only a win will suffice.

“A draw on Tuesday did not do us much good so we need to start winning,” he said. “We went to Dorchester looking for three points and it was our first draw since November so you can see that we are going out looking to win games.”

Town were the better side for long spells of Tuesday’s game in Dorset – but they failed to make the most of their good periods and were made to pay for some defensive errors.

“It’s disappointing that we have not seen the game out and it feels like a loss,” Bristow added. “It looked like it was going to be comfortable but then we conceded two goals that I think were avoidable.

“The first came from our own free-kick, while the second came after we won the ball in midfield, only to give it away again.

“We competed well and had two good chances towards the end but it feels like two points dropped. At the end of the day we have not lost so we have to take that into the next game and look to build.”

That next game is a trip to Kent on Saturday (kick-off 3pm). Bromley sit 12th in the table, eight places above Basingstoke – but a Town win would see them move level on points with their hosts, illustrating how tight things are near the bottom of the table.

“It is going to be a tough game,” Bristow said. “They need the points just as much as us and have got some good attacking players so we will need to be on our toes and defend a bit better.”

Bristow has two players, Nathan Campbell and Stefan Brown, currently out on loan at other clubs, but Jay Gasson is his only injury worry.

The centre-back is a slight doubt with a swollen ankle and sore knee – but striker Tim Sills is back in contention as an x-ray revealed that he has not broken his thumb.

Seethe latest Gazette for a report on Tuesday night’s match – and log on to basingstokegazette.co.uk/sport for live updates from Bromley on Saturday afternoon.