BASINGSTOKE Town were left indebted to goalkeeper Stuart Moore and the frame of the goal, but they claimed an important win at the end of an entertaining and dramatic afternoon at The Soccer AM Stadium.
All five goals were scored in the first half, with three of them coming in the opening 12 minutes. Town took the lead twice, only for poor defending to allow Maidenhead to level on both occasions.
Louie Soares’ strike not long before the break ended up being the difference between the sides, but Maidenhead went close to claiming a third equaliser on several occasions. Moore made some terrific saves to keep his side ahead, while the woodwork came to Town’s rescue on two occasions.
However, all of that is likely to be forgotten when it comes to the final reckoning. The history books will simply record a win for Basingstoke, and it’s a result that their supporters may look back on as key when it comes to the end of the season.
Unsurprisingly, Town manager Jason Bristow opted to name the same side that had beaten leaders Boreham Wood 4-0 a week earlier.
Maidenhead were without former Premier League striker DJ Campbell, but ex-Town forward David Tarpey did start in attack and the visitors handed a debut to goalkeeper Ashley Timms.
Maidenhead set their stall out to press high up the pitch from the first whistle. They made a good start, but their defensive weakness was exposed during Town’s first real attack in the fifth minute.
Nathan Smart broke into acres of space down the Basingstoke right and while Simon Downer prevented his low cross reaching Liam Enver-Marum, he was only able to divert the ball into the path of Manny Williams. He made no mistake from 10 yards, finding the bottom corner to open the scoring.
It was a lead that lasted less than a minute. Maidenhead kicked off, launched a high ball to the edge of the Town area, where it was missed by an unorganised defence, and Danny Green curled home an angled shot, giving Moore no chance.
The hosts almost found an instant response of their own, but Chris Flood’s shot was blocked, with Timms getting down bravely to prevent Williams bundling the loose ball over the line.
Moore then made his first save of the afternoon, keeping out Ashley Nicholls’ effort from distance, and with just 12 minutes on the clock, Shaun McAuley fired the hosts back in front.
Smart was the instigator of the goal again, his low centre finding its way to McAuley, who was in space on the edge of the area. With Timms out of position, the midfielder fired low into the corner of the net to restore the lead.
Enver-Marum and Tom Bird both went close as the hosts looked to increase their advantage, but it was Maidenhead who struck next, levelling for a second time on 26 minutes.
Tarpey, who was a constant threat for the visitors throughout the first half, took advantage of a mistake by Smart to get away down the left. He cut back on his right foot and when Smart slipped over, he had an age to pick out strike partner Tashan Adeyinka, who rose unmarked to head home from eight yards.
Parity lasted a little longer this time, but only 12 minutes as Town regained the lead from a neatly-worked free-kick. Bird tapped it short for Soares, who fired in a low shot, beating Timms at his near post.
James Harper saw his shot well blocked by De’Reece Vanderhyde, but Maidenhead were fractions away from levelling for a third time in the final minute of the half. More lacklustre defending gave Tarpey the chance to shoot from 20 yards. His effort beat Moore, but cannoned back off the post, with Bird hacking the loose ball clear.
The action continued after the break, with Rob Dickie heading a decent chance wide and Enver-Marum seeing his powerful shot pushed over the crossbar by Timms as Town looked for a fourth.
Moore then took centre stage for the hosts, making a pair of important double saves.
The goalkeeper did well to keep out Ryan Upward’s low shot from distance on 55 minutes. Adeyinka looked certain to net the rebound, but Moore did brilliantly to recover, diving full-length to push his follow-up effort over the crossbar.
The Town ’keeper was back in action again on the hour. Bobby Behzadi’s shot took a deflection, forcing Moore into another full-length dive, and he got to his feet quickly again to keep out Tarpey’s rather tame follow-up effort.
Green managed to beat Moore on 66 minutes, floating a really good free-kick towards the top corner, but for a second time in the game, the frame of the goal came to Town’s rescue, the ball smacking against the crossbar. Moore was out of the game and Upward looked set to guide the loose ball home, but he was stretching and could only poke it wide.
Basingstoke were defending too deep, but they were causing problems on the break. McAuley fired way over from the edge of the area, while both Enver-Marum and Lloyd Macklin had strong claims for a penalty turned down.
They were hanging on at the end though. Sam Barratt got up above Smart to meet a cross from the right, but he was only able to head wide, while goalkeeper Timms totally missed his kick when he went up for a corner in injury-time.
McAuley wasted a good chance to seal the game, slicing an angled shot wide of the near post when he had men in support, and the sixth minute of stoppage time coughed up one last chance for the visitors.
Town struggled to clear the ball, which bounced around in the area before dropping to Jacob Erskine, whose volley cleared the crossbar.
It was a relieved Basingstoke side who celebrated at the final whistle and they remain fourth in the Vanarama Conference South table, just four points behind new leaders Bromley.
Click here to watch a post-match interview with Basingstoke Town manager Jason Bristow
PLAYER RATINGS
Stuart Moore – 8 (out of 10) (Gazette Star Man)
No chance with either of the goals and made two fantastic double saves to earn his side the win.
Nathan Smart – 6
A mixed day. A threat down the right throughout the first half, setting up the first two goals, but also gave the ball away too often and was badly at fault for the second Maidenhead goal.
Tom Bird – 7
Maidenhead got very little change out of him, but he was unable to have as much influence on the game as usual.
James Harper – 6
Did his best to keep Town ticking over in possession, but allowed Maidenhead to get too many shots away from distance.
Rob Dickie – 6
Never allowed to settle by Maidenhead’s hard-working forwards.
David Ray – 6
Seemed to miss his kick for Maidenhead’s opener. Found it hard when put under pressure by Tarpey and Adeyinka.
Louie Soares – 7
Town’s best midfielder on the day. Took his goal really nicely.
Shaun McAuley – 7
A nice finish put Town 2-1 up, but he was wasteful in good positions on several other occasions.
Liam Enver-Marum – 6
Had a couple of good moments, but didn’t hold the ball up as well as normal, allowing the visitors to keep the pressure on.
Chris Flood – 6
A very quiet game. Never really involved.
Manny Williams – 7
Another who took his chance well, but he was starved of the ball and well marshalled by Ashley Nicholls.
SUBSTITUTES
Lloyd Macklin (for Flood 68min) – 6
Same problem as the man he replaced. No opportunity to shine.
Robbie Rice (for Williams 81min) – 6
Brought on in an effort to strengthen the defence.
Andrew Jenkinson (for Liam Enver-Marum 87min) – 6
Introduced when Enver-Marum picked up a calf injury. Not enough time to have a real impact on the game.
Subs (not used): Case, Cox
Maidenhead United: Timms, Vanderhyde, Solomon, Nicholls, Erskine, Downer, Green, Upward (sub Barratt 70min), Adeyinka (sub Azeez 75min), Behzadi (sub Hutchinson 75min), Tarpey
Subs (not used): Parsons, Gray
Attendance: 575
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