BASINGSTOKE Town continued their excellent home form, as they scored three times in the space of seven minutes in the second half, to beat high flying Redditch United.

The first 45 minutes of this contest proved to be a non-event, except for a five-minute stoppage after referee Iain Parsons was forced out of the game due to injury.

Brian White took over and after an appeal to fans in the ground, Gary Smith took up the assistant’s flag.

Redditch dominated the opening 45 minutes, but without carving out any real clear-cut chances and the home side defended really well deserving to go in at 0-0.

After the break, Town took control of the game and Shane Hollamby so nearly gave them the lead just after the hour mark, but his header from Sam Deadfield’s cross hit the post.

On 75 minutes, the Dragons took a well-deserved lead, as Marcus Johnson-Schuster sent the speedy Sam Smart away down the right wing.

In his efforts to stop him Redditch defender Gui Mailancol barged him sending the striker flying and a penalty was awarded.

Ben Wright did the business from the spot, sending Ethan Ross Redditch’s on loan goalie from West Brom, the wrong way.

Three minutes later, a goal worthy of winning any game saw a thunderbolt strike from Johnson-Schuster from 30 yards, which flew into the roof of the net.

The home side’s scoring spree was still not complete, as they netted a third on 82 minutes, as new signing Callum Bunting scored on his debut, as a he converted Smart’s cross.

With the visitors well beaten the game turned a little ugly in the final minutes with visiting defender Lewis Wright lucky not to see red, after a couple of altercations one after the final whistle.

A delighted Town boss Terry Brown said: “They are a good footballing side and I was happy to go in at the break at 0-0 and our centre halves Dan Bayliss and Shane Hollamby were magnificent “In the second half I felt we dominated and Marcus (Johnson-Schuster) has scored what could be one of the goals of the season.”

On Tuesday night, Town are away to Fleet in the Southern League Cup and all the players on the bench on Saturday will start as well as goalkeeper Aaron Holt.

Last night, Town also learned they are away in the Hampshire Senior Cup to Winchester City in round three.