BASINGSTOKE Town’s unbeaten home record since the opening day of the season came to an end, as they were beaten by Southern League Premier Division leaders King’s Lynn Town 2-1.

Some will say the visitors deserved their win, while others will think the Dragons did enough to share the spoils.

However, for the first 45 minutes the Norfolk side were very much in control and maybe deserved to be more than 1-0 up.

Basingstoke boss Terry Brown kept faith with the starting XI which won against Biggleswade, but after Shane Hollamby went close in the second minute, the home side took 39 minutes to create another notable chance.

Meanwhile, the visitors so nearly took the lead after seven minutes, when Guri Demuria sliced a clearance which saw Colm McAdden forced to push the ball out for a corner.

This was first of many King’s Lynn corners during the first 45 minutes, which was mostly won by the raids of Cameron Norman down the right flank.

The visitors finally got their deserved goal on 25 minutes, when Michael Clunan scored from the penalty spot. This was after Marcus Johnson-Schuster fouled Ryan Hawkins right on the edge of the area.

Three minutes later, it could have been 2-0, as a great strike from Ryan Hawkins crashed back off the post.

The second half got off to the best possible start for the home side, as they equalised four minutes in.

A ball into the box, saw Sam Argent jump for it with King’s Lynn goalkeeper Alexander Street and he managed to push it into the path of Callum Bunting to score.

The visiting players were livid with the decision, but the goal stood.

However, the lead lasted just three minutes, as King’s Lynn defender Sam Gaughran bundled the ball home, after Michael Gash’s shot crashed off the crossbar.

Soon after, Bunting came close to an equaliser for the home side, as his glancing header went wide of the target.

At the other end, McAdden produced a smart save to deny Leon Mettam with 20 minutes left.

After this the two best chances in the game both fell to the home side.

Hollamby fired a left footed volley just wide of the target and then in the first minute of added on time, Wright flashed another volley just the wrong side of the upright.

After the game Basingstoke boss Terry Brown said: “It was like men against boys in the first half and I was pleased to still be in the game at 1-0.

“I felt we matched them in the second half and could have got a point. Overall we were beaten by one of the best sides in this league and they will be fighting it out for the title with Kettering and Slough.”

The loss saw the Dragons slip to 16th in the table, but they are still 19 points clear of the drop zone.

This coming Saturday, Basingstoke are on their travels to St Neots.