BASINGSTOKE Town’s new manager Terry Brown was absolutely delighted, after watching his new team beat National League South play-off hopefuls Oxford City 2-0 at the Camrose in his first game in charge.
After the game the new Dragons’ boss Brown said: “I am absolutely delighted with the win today.
The players implemented my instructions and kept a clean sheet especially in the first-half playing against the wind, they did the basics very well.
“I am proud of every player, as they all put in a good shift for me and I cannot ask for more.”
Brown made three changes to the side which lost at Whitehawk, which saw Rob Rice return to the back four, Glen Southam to the midfield and Liam Enver-Marum was back up front as he partnered Chris Flood in attack.
This meant that Nathan Smart, Guri Demuria and Manny Williams were all relegated to the bench.
Town were the better team from start to finish, playing against a very strong wind in the opening half and against a side that had won their last three outings.
After 13 minutes, an excellent team move saw Tom Bird down the left find Chris Flood, who laid the ball back to man of the match Laurie Soares.
The midfielder produced a lovely ball across to Simon Dunn and only a very good stop from the legs of City goalkeeper Laurie Walker denied him.
Oxford looked lively early on, but they had no real end product and Town came even closer as Reece Connolly’s volley was denied by a point blank stop from Walker and the rebound fell to Flood, but his effort hit the outside of the post.
Oxford goalie Walker then nearly scored one of the most bizarre goals ever seen at the Camrose, as his wind assisted long clearance bounced over the head of centre half Jay Gasson and then goalkeeper Aaron Howe, before it hit the bar.
It would have been a cruel way for Town to have gone behind.
Then four minutes before half-time a two footed challenge from David King on Simon Dunn saw tempers flare-up on the pitch.
King was shown a straight red card, while Louie Soares and Chris Flood also picked up yellow cards for the afters.
The second half saw the teams swap early chances, before Town opened the scoring after 54 minutes.
Glen Southam in the centre of the park found Bird on the left and he played the ball down the channel to Enver-Marum. The striker then produced a very good finish with the outside of his boot.
Soon after, a Bird free-kick saw Flood head just wide and on 68 minutes, Town should have scored the second as the tireless Flood broke through and played a square ball to Connolly, but he could only fire over from a good position.
Oxford then so nearly scored an own goal as sub Adrian Santiago’s header was only kept out by a very low down smart save from Walker.
However, Town scored their deserved second goal, as a clearance from Lee Henderson was blocked and fell to Enver-Marum and he made no mistake.
The striker then came close to getting his hat-trick, but his effort went wide.
Oxford’s best chance of the final 45 minutes came in the final minute, as sub Declan Benjamin fired on the turn across the face of goal.
The victory saw Town close the gap on the teams above and they are now eight points from safety.
The Dragons are next in action on Monday at Gosport Borough and their Hampshire rivals lost 3-0 at Whitehawk on Saturday.
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