BASINGSTOKE Town maintained their unbeaten record in pre-season with a 3-1 victory at near neighbours Alton Town.

On the hottest evening of the year so far it was the visitors who carved out the first chance after 12 minutes as Ashley Artwell volleyed over following a corner.

The home side, who included former Basingstoke striker Neville Roach, then took the lead with their first effort. Curtis Thorn took a difficult pass; lobbed the ball over his marking defender and scored with a crisp low volley.

Basingstoke peppered the home goal and only some heroics from the Alton goalkeeper former Hartley Wintney shot stopper Lee Allen maintained the lead.

Sam Deadfield was denied and then a fine double save thwarted Jarvis and Artwell.

In between Josh Baines seen a shot crash off the inside of the post and into the goalkeepers arms.

The pressure continued and the long overdue goal arrived just before the break when Joe Gater headed in a right wing corner. Both sides made changes for the start of the second half and indeed throughout the remainder of the game.

Jarvis put Basingstoke ahead on 49 minutes after collecting a right wing cross and flicking the ball past Allen Redford added a third, when he cut in from the left and scored from a tight angle.

Artwell was then unlucky to see a shot crash off the post and at the other end Alton's second shot of the match saw Jonny Wey's also hit the woodwork.