Rico confident Town can defeat leaders

6:58am Saturday 12th April 2008

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HAVING failed to win any of their last 12 league outings, Basingstoke Town face the daunting task of taking on Blue Square South leaders Lewes this weekend.

The Sussex side travel to the Camrose later today (kick-off 3pm) having won their last three matches and sitting pretty at the summit of the table, one point clear of Eastbourne Borough with two games in hand.

They have an intimidating away record, having won 13 of their 19 games away from The Dripping Pan so far this season, losing on just three occasions.

Basingstoke caretaker-manager Steve Richardson is only too aware of the task facing his side as he attempts to pick up his first league win since taking over five games ago.

"It's certainly not getting any easier," he said. "Lewes are a side who have been together for a couple of seasons. They are really starting to move and are in a position to win the league.

"With them being top of the league, a draw would probably be a decent result. Having said that, coming up against a team at the top of the league, players have something to prove and tend to raise their game. I'm confident that we can give them a good run."

Lewes ran out comfortable 4-0 winners when the sides met in Sussex back in January, though two goals in the final 10 minutes, with Basingstoke down to 10 men, added a touch of gloss to the scoreline.

"We were a little bit unfortunate down there," Richardson said. "I felt that the final score flattered them. The difference was that they took their chances."

While Basingstoke have not won since the middle of January, they have drawn their last two, including a creditable 0-0 away at play-off contenders Bishop's Stortford last weekend.

Richardson was pleased with the way his side performed in Hertfordshire and was especially happy with their work-rate.

He says that this will have to continue on Saturday if they are to get anything out of the game.

"We will need to work hard and stop them playing first and foremost," Richardson said. "Then we need to take our chances.

"It was a little bit like that on Saturday. If we had taken one or two of our half chances, we would have comfortably won."

Having staved off the threat of Greg Pearson, the league's top scorer, last weekend, Town's defence must now turn their attention to Lewes' Paul Booth, who has found the back of the net 25 times so far this season.

"We dealt very well with Greg Pearson, but Paul Booth is a slightly different type of player," Richardson added. "The defence will need to concentrate, but if they do that, we should be able to cope with him."

Midfielders Ben Surey and Steve Laidler both returned from long-term injuries to play a part against Bishop's Stortford. Surey started the match and was replaced by Laidler after 50 minutes, something Richardson says he may do again this weekend.

"Ben and Steve were both a bit sore after last Saturday, but with a few days rest and some light training, they should be alright," the caretaker-manager said. "They could both start, but I will have to play it by ear and they might have to play a half each again."

Winger Matt Warner is unlikely to feature, but is back in training after a scan on his foot showed no major problems. Striker James Taylor missed the trip to Stortford after suffering an adverse reaction to a dead leg he got against Dorchester three weeks ago and is a doubt for Saturday.

However, another striker, Michael Charles, should recover from a back problem in time to play and defender Sean Hankin is expected to return after illness.

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