Town lacking a killer instinct (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Town lacking a killer instinct

8:00am Monday 23rd August 2010 in

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FRANK Gray was unable to hide his frustration after watching his Basingstoke Town side come away with only a point to show from a dominant display at Lewes.

After a sloppy start, Town completely bossed the game, with David Pratt, Nathan Smart, Greg Draper and Ross Adams all going close.

However, they were unable to break the deadlock, leaving Gray to reflect on two points dropped.

“It is a game we could have won by four or five goals,” the Town boss said after Saturday’s game. “We had good chances but just could not get that goal.

“Their manager even said he |couldn’t believe we hadn’t won but you have to score and that is the one thing we did not do.

“It was an excellent performance. If we keep going like that we will not have many problems but goals win games.

“We probably played better today than we did when we put six past Weymouth last season but that’s the way it goes sometimes. You have days when you’re just not going to win, but it’s another clean sheet and the only thing missing was a goal.”

Gray says his side will be looking for revenge when they host Dorchester at the Camrose later today.

Basingstoke Town went down 6-1 when the sides met in Dorset on Easter Monday - and manager Gray says his side will need little in the way of motivation going into tonight's game (kick-off 7.45pm).

“Dorchester bullied us down there last season and beat us 6-1, so we will be looking to get a bit back from that,” he said. “We'll certainly be up for it and we have two home games now so will be looking to get points on the board.”

Both Basingstoke and Dorchester go into the game without a Blue Square South victory in any of their three games so far.

Dorchester are the only side in the division yet to get a point on the board after losing 2-1 at home to Woking on Saturday, while Gray is looking for his side to pick up from where they left off against Lewes.

“If the lads play as well as they did against Lewes, I will not be disappointed,” the Town boss said. “We played some good football, passed them to death and had good chances but could not finish them.

“The lads are really disappointed not to have won the game but we go again on Monday.

“The goals will come and, when they do, there's every chance somebody is going to take a hiding from us. We just need that first goal because then teams have come on to us and we can pick them off.”

Matt Pattison, who missed the trip to Lewes with a calf strain, could be in line to return for Basingstoke, while Gary Frewen is available for selection after missing the first three games of the season due to suspension.

See The Monday Gazette for a full report and more pictures from Saturday's game.