BASINGSTOKE Town’s winning run was brought to an end by a determined Eastbourne Borough side in Sussex, on a day when nothing seemed to go right for Jason Bristow’s men.

The hosts were deserving winners, stopping Town playing and taking advantage of some sloppy defending from set pieces, but Basingstoke certainly didn’t get the rub of the green.

It was the visitors who actually started the game on the front foot, but they were unable to make the most of a couple of decent early chances, and Eastbourne scored with their first real attack of note, changing the game.

From then on, it was the hosts who were the better side. They doubled the lead not long after going ahead and added a late third to give the scoreline a somewhat flattering look.

However, Town’s luck was also out. A strong wind was a real factor in the first half, helping Eastbourne to pin the visitors back. But when the players emerged for the second half, when Town should have enjoyed the benefit, it had died down to a light breeze.

More bad luck surrounded the visitors’ substitution. Bristow made a double change just before the hour, introducing Liam Enver-Marum and Manny Williams, only for Lloyd Macklin to go down with an injury just minutes later, forcing him into a third change.

All in all, it was one of those days for Basingstoke, who had won 1-0 when the sides met at The Soccer AM Stadium six days earlier.

They got off to a good start, with Louie Soares putting a dangerous header across goal, forcing Ian Simpemba into a hurried clearance.

David Ray went even closer after 10 minutes. Soares put in a dangerous corner that found the defender at the back post. His header looked set for the top corner, but home goalkeeper Lewis Carey got across to make a good save.

Lloyd Macklin shot too close to the goalkeeper after turning well in the area, while the hosts were lucky to see the ball drop to Carey rather than Shaun McAuley when Kiran Khinda-John took a wild swing at Macklin’s low centre.

Having spent the first 17 minutes chasing shadows as Town passed the ball around them, Eastbourne grabbed the lead very much against the run of play.

A free-kick from halfway found centre-back Simpemba on the edge of the area and his flick reached striker Darren Lok, who got free behind the Town defence to slot past Stuart Moore.

Having got their noses in front, Eastbourne pressed on, causing more problems from a couple of set-pieces before doubling their advantage from another dead ball situation.

Good pressing resulted in Town being forced to pass the ball back to Moore, and he sliced his kick out for a throw. Marvin Hamilton used the wind to reach Simpemba at the near post with the long throw and he got above everyone to loop a header over Moore and in at the far post.

Eastbourne spent the rest of the half using the wind well to frustrate Town and they could have moved further ahead on 34 minutes. Another long throw caused problems, bouncing around in the Basingstoke area before Lok managed to fire in a volley, forcing Moore into a really good save.

Basingstoke huffed and puffed after the break, but for the most part, Eastbourne were able to keep them at arm’s length, creating the better chances themselves.

Moore had to come off his line quickly on two occasions to stop home attackers getting a clear run on goal, while set pieces continued to pose problems.

Tom Bird and Nathan Smart both failed to really test Carey with efforts from distance, but Williams did have a big chance with 11 minutes left.

Having done well to block Carey’s clearance down the Town left, the substitute’s attempt to find the unguarded net from a narrow angle went wide, with players getting up in support.

Had they scored, it would have set up a frantic final 10 minutes, but instead, Eastbourne made the game absolutely safe.

Gavin McCallum rode a couple of weak challenges down the home side’s left wing before putting in a low cross that Moore failed to hold, the ball hitting his chest. A couple more chances to clear were not taken and the ball fell to substitute Richard Pacquette, who turned well before firing home from close range.

To Town’s credit, they didn’t give up, creating three decent chances in the closing stages. The best fell to Enver-Marum, but Hamilton made an excellent block to stop him getting a shot on target, while Carey made a good save to keep out Rob Dickie’s effort from distance and Williams went close from the resulting corner.

Any goal scored at that point would have been little consolation, but Town remain third in the Vanarama Conference South table despite the defeat, with games in hand over many of the sides around them.

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

PLAYER RATINGS

Stuart Moore – 6 (out of 10)

Didn’t have too much to do. Made one really good save and came off his line quickly a couple of times, but made a mistake in the build-up to the third goal.

Nathan Smart – 6

Quite a quiet game. Got up and down the right flank but was perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty after giving the ball away in a dangerous area.

Tom Bird – 7 (Gazette Star Man)

Consistent as ever. Unable to get into the game as much as usual, but solid and energetic.

Robbie Rice – 7

Another solid game as one of Town’s three centre-backs.

Rob Dickie – 6

Not his best game. Tried to do too much at times, running the ball out of defence, leaving his side susceptible to the counter-attack.

David Ray – 6

Solid as ever in open play, but struggled to deal with Simpemba at dead balls.

James Harper – 6

Made a couple of good passes, but generally ineffective.

Shaun McAuley – 6

Unable to get into the game.

Lloyd Macklin – 6

Made a bright start but faded as his supply line dried up.

Chris Flood – 6

Worked hard, but things didn’t go for him when he had the ball.

Louie Soares – 6

Lively, but didn’t see enough of the ball to have a real impact.

SUBSTITUTES

Liam Enver-Marum (for Flood 59min) – 6

Held the ball up well, but starved of service.

Manny Williams (for Soares 59min) – 7

A real nuisance for the Eastbourne defence. His hard work earned him a good chance, but he couldn’t take it.

Pat Cox (for Macklin 62min) – 6

Not really involved as Eastbourne shut the game down.

Subs (not used): Jenkinson, Case

Eastbourne Borough: Carey, Hamilton, Khinda-John, Aldred, Simpemba, Raymond, Haysman (sub Sinclair 68min), Worrall (sub Pinney 75min), Lok (sub Pacquette 81min), Johnson, McCallum

Subs (not used): Taylor, Rogers

Attendance: 563