Rico praises Town after final victory

3:02pm Monday 12th May 2008

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A HAMPSHIRE Senior Cup final victory was just the finish Steve Richardson was looking for in his short reign in the hot seat at Basingstoke Town.

A single goal by James Taylor just before half-time, ensured that the likeable caretaker-boss signed off with a win, as the Camrose side beat local rivals Farnborough Town 1-0 at AFC Bournemouth's Fitness First Stadium on Saturday.

It was the club's first piece of silverware since last winning the competition back in 1997.

A jubilant Richardson said: "It is always great to win a cup final and an excellent way to finish a season, which has not been easy.

"They are a great bunch of players and have made my job easy. Today was a great team performance and even if Farnborough had a lot of possession, I always felt we were the better team."

A former defender in his playing days, Richardson was full of praise for the man-mountains at the heart of his defence and said: "For me the outstanding players were our centre-halves Joe Dolan and Jason Bristow. They have been solid for us. I think Steve Laidler and Ben Surey ran the midfield and if anyone was going to score, it was bound to be James Taylor."

The winners were roared on by the Camrose faithful and Richardson acknowledged their support and said: "The fans were great today and they, as much as the players, deserved some silverware this season."

Basingstoke's goal scoring hero Taylor finally got his hands on a Hampshire Senior Cup winner's medal having missed out in previous finals with Basingstoke and twice with Havant and Waterlooville.

He said: "It's great to win for once before I retire."

"But I think I still have a couple more years in me yet," the striker quickly added.

Talking about the winning goal, Taylor said: "It was a great shot in by Fitz (Scott Fitzgerald) which I saw took a deflection as it came in, so I knew it would be difficult for the goalie. So I gambled and got the goal which turned out to be the winner, which was great."

Captain Dolan, who won a league title with Millwall, was delighted to get his hands on some more silverware and said: "Every time you win a cup it is a great feeling."

A very happy Basingstoke chairman and president Rafi Razzak said: "This is just excellent to win and another great day for the players, fans and everyone involved with the club."