A POOR first-half performance saw Basingstoke Town  go down to a second consecutive home defeat in the Vanarama Conference South.

The hosts were very much second best for much of the opening 45 minutes and would have been out of the game before half-time had it not been for the heroics of goalkeeper Stuart Moore, who pulled off a string of excellent saves.

As it was, Charlie Smith’s 19th-minute strike was all that separated the sides at the break. Town improved in the second half, but they were unable to get on terms, losing ground in the title race as a result, dropping two places to fourth in the table, though they do have games in hand over the sides above them.

Basingstoke’s selection problems continued, with Manny Williams and Liam Enver-Marum both ruled out due to suspension, while James Harper was sidelined through injury.

The good news was that Lloyd Macklin was deemed fit enough to partner Chris Flood in attack, while defender Ryan Case was named on the bench for his hometown club after signing from Braintree Town.

From the outset, it was clear that St Albans had arrived at The Soccer AM Stadium with a plan to stop Town playing out from the back by pressing the ball high up the pitch.

The hosts were unable to get to grips with this tactic throughout the first half, while they also failed to get close enough to the visitors when they had the ball, allowing them too much time on the ball.

Striker John Frendo, who was a threat throughout, had the first chance after just two minutes, outmuscling Jay Gasson on the edge of the area but skewing his shot wide of the near post.

A quick ball over the top of the St Albans defence had Macklin in behind as Town looked to respond, but his centre was behind Louie Soares and Flood could only fire over the bar from the edge of the area.

The visitors then took complete control, with Moore denying Frendo from close range and producing an even better save from the same player minutes later.

Sam Corcoran robbed Gasson on the edge of the area and his pull-back found the striker. He should have scored, but Moore spread himself well to make the save and got up quickly to then deny Smith on the follow-up, with the aid of two defenders.

Corcoran was next to go close, racing through as St Albans broke from a Town corner, but his final shot was a poor one, bobbling through to Moore.

Macklin continued to threaten in behind the St Albans defence, forcing a smart save from visiting goalkeeper Joe Welch after racing onto an excellent pass from Simon Dunn, but on the whole, it was one-way traffic.

Moore made two more top drawer saves, keeping out Smith’s low shot from the edge of the area and getting across brilliantly to save Corcoran’s effort, which looked destined for the top corner.

However, he was finally beaten on 19 minutes, Smith curling a low shot just inside the far post after cutting inside Robbie Rice down the St Albans left.

Ian Gayle just about managed to clear Dunn’s low cross as Town looked to reply, but Moore was soon back in action, saving Corcoran’s effort from the edge of the area.

Macklin was Town’s one real bright spark throughout the half and he fired an angled drive just wide of the far post, while Jamie Brown tested Welch with a fine strike from long range as the hosts improved.

The hosts were handed another blow just before the break, when Macklin had to be replaced by Andrew Jenkinson, but there was time for one final first-half chance, Brown firing wide of the near post after Shaun McAuley had got in down the right.

Town went close to levelling early in the second half. Good play from Flood saw the hosts awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area and it was knocked short for Soares. His strike took a slight deflection off a defender on its way through and it took a fine save from Welch to keep St Albans ahead.

Good feet from Dunn created another chance, but Charlie Gorman got back to hack the ball away from inside the six-yard box, while Soares flashed a low shot just wide of the far post.

Moore kept his side in the game, making a fantastic save to keep out Omar Beckles’ header from a corner, while Brown had an excellent opportunity to level with 20 minutes to go. Tom Bird’s low shot richocheted around before falling to the midfielder in behind the defence, but he was unable to beat Welch, with David Ray hooking another good chance over the bar from the resulting corner.

Town began to run out of ideas as the game drew to a conclusion, but there was one final chance for Soares, whose angled drive was pushed around the post by Welch as St Albans held on to claim all three points.

Click here to see a post-match interview with Basingstoke Town manager Jason Bristow

PLAYER RATINGS

Stuart Moore – 9 (out of 10) – Gazette Star Man

Kept his side in the game with a string of fine saves. No chance of stopping the goal.

Robbie Rice – 6

Unable to get forward and beaten by Smith in the lead-up to the St Albans goal.

Tom Bird – 6

Kept on the back foot by the impressive James Comley. Little chance to show his quality in forward areas.

Louie Soares – 7

Town’s best outfield player in the second half. Caused problems with his pace and direct running.

Jay Gasson – 5

Given a hard time by the impressive Frendo.

David Ray – 6

Not his best game. Failed to make the most of a good chance from a corner.

Simon Dunn – 6

Unable to get into the game during the first half. Improved after the break.

Shaun McAuley – 5

Didn’t really have an impact on the game in a congested midfield.

Lloyd Macklin – 7

Town’s most impressive outfield player until he had to be replaced at the end of the first half. Caused problems running in behind the St Albans defence.

Chris Flood – 6

No opportunities to display his predatory instincts.

Jamie Brown – 5

Not disciplined enough in his role protecting the back four and gave the ball away too often with aimless passes forward. Posed a few problems in the St Albans box.

SUBSTITUTES

Andrew Jenkinson (for Macklin 45min) – 6

Calm in possession and helped Town to keep the ball much better in the second half.

Subs (not used): Smart, Owusu, Case, Smalley.

St Albans City: Welch, Kyriacou, Chappell, Gorman, Martin, Gayle, Beckles, Comley (sub Wales 87min), Frendo (sub Nouble 81min), Corcoran, Smith (sub Keenleyside 90min). Subs (not used): Shields, Taylor.

Attendance: 670