BASINGSTOKE Town lost again away from home as they went down 2-1 at Hitchin Town.

The sides swapped early chances as Charlie Smith firing wide for the home side, while Dan Bayliss headed wide from a Sam Deafield and Shane Hollamby’s header soon after hit the base of a the post.

Hitchin took the lead after 25 minutes as Colm McAdden in the Basingstoke goal failed to collect the ball and was robbed by Elliot Bailey. The striker set up Jonny McNamara to slot home.

Michael Johnson in the Canaries goal then dived to gather Sam Deadfield’s deflected touch on a low ball from Ashleigh Artwell.

McNamara had two chances just after the break, being put through by Smith and then Bailey.

Hitchin doubled their lead on 65 minutes from Callum Donnelly's volley.

Johnson was then tested in the home net as he saved well from Charlie Kennedy, and twice from sub Ben Wright and Jack McKnight also fired over the crossbar.

On 76 minutes, new signing Guri Demuria made his debut coming on for Sam Smart and Hollomaby moved to the forward line.

The visitors made it 2-1 on 83 minutes. A corner was cleared only as far as Dan Collier just outside the area and he hammered home powerfully to give the home goalkeeper no chance.

It left the Canaries to withstand late Basingstoke pressure as nerves started to fray but no-one could connect with Bennett's final free-kick into the Hitchin box.

Basingstoke now 12th in the table travel to Weymouth tomorrow night, who are two places above them for another league game.