AT MOMENT there appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel for Michael Gilkes team as they slumped to their 12th league defeat of the season to remain bottom of the table and six points away from clearing the relegation zone.

It was a lone goal in the 13th minute that sunk them this week, a scrappy goal was enough to see Dartford go home happy and continue their seventh unbeaten league run.

Town made one change to the team which won at Bishop's Stortford the previous week as Louie Soares came in for Simon Dunn.

With the strong blustery wind in their favour Dartford attacked strongly and in only the first minute Ryan Hayes tested Aaron Howe with 35 yard shot the home goalkeeper managed to turn round the post and Haynes went very close with another snap shot soon after.

It was in the 13th minute when the visitors took the lead. Hayes again in the action, this time his free kick out on the right flank fell to Andy Pugh, his shot from inside the six yard box hit Howe and rebounded kindly for Elliott Bradbrook to force the ball home through the many bodies and over the line.

Dartford enjoyed a lot of the ball, but Town had their moments and in the 18th minute Lloyd Macklin did well to rob his man just over the half way line, went on a strong run down the left, cut in and his shot looked a certain equalizer until goalkeeper Dener Ibrahim, very late, managed to deflect for a corner kick The home defence did a good job containing he attacks that were frequent, with the two loan players Cullum Buckley and Dominic Hyam impressive and in a rare attack Liam Enver-Marum had a decent attempt well saved by the Turkish goalkeeper.

Basingstoke started the second half without Buckley who was replaced by Tom Bird and this restricted the good runs by the Reading man had in the first half.

With the wind there were more attacks for the Dragons, with Chris Flood hitting a shot on the turn wide in the 55th and then in the 65th came the closest the home side was to getting something from the game.

A shot by Enver-Marum, was deflected for a corner kick. It was taken by Louie Soares and met with fine header by Flood, only for it to hit the bar and rebound clear.

Town boss Gilkes brought on youngster George Hallahan in the 80th minute to see if he could repeat his goal that saw Basingstoke through in the Hampshire Senior Cup on Tuesday and in an effort to at least get a point goalkeeper Howe came up for corner kicks in the late stages. However there was no magic ending this week as the Dartford defence held firm.

Next for Town is a basement battle with visiting St Albans on Saturday.

Basingstoke: Howe, Rice, Buckley (sub Bird), Harper (sub McAuley), Gasson, Hyam, Smart, Soares, Enver-Marum, Flood, Macklin (sub Hallahan).

Attendence: 531.