BASINGSTOKE Town made it a magnificent seven straight home league win, as they beat the league leaders Hereford 3-1.

Town’s biggest crowd of the season 704, saw the home side condemn the Bulls to their second consecutive defeat.

Basingstoke manager Terry Brown made two changes to the side which beat St Neots with Dan Bayliss and Charlie Kennedy returning to starting XI in place of Jack McKnight and Sam Smart.

Town kicked off against a strong bitterly cold wind and driving snow. They got off to a dream start after 70 seconds. Callum Bunting flicked on a Charlie Kennedy pass into the path of Sam Argent, who fired the ball into the roof of the net.

After this the visitors hit back with a string of corners, including four on the trot.

The last of which saw the very dangerous Mike Symonds header hit the bar and was cleared off the line by Dan Collier.

The Bulls continued to press with the home side forced to make a change after 30 minutes, as Tim Wohlfiel was replaced by new signing Tom Leggett.

The young defender from Basingstoke, who signed on Friday has played for Southampton under-18s, as well as Aston Villa under-21 and under-23 sides.

The visitors continued to dominate, but some superb defending kept them out and Town went in at half-time leading 1-0.

Hereford started the second half the better and having made a double change including bringing on leading goalscorer John Mills, they equalised just after the hour mark. It came from a looping header from Jordan Liburd.

At this point, earlier in the season, the visitors would have gone on and won the game, but Town are made of sterner stuff now.

The home side were forced to make two changes soon after as Argent suffered a jaw injury and Kennedy limped off to be replaced by Sam Smart and Jack McKnight.

It proved to be a very Smart move and the livewire striker should have earned his side a penalty, just six minutes after coming on, when felled in the box by Cameron Pring.

Referee Dan Lamport was surrounded by Town players but waved them all away and instead awarded a goal kick.

Soon after, Smart with a great strike from distance was only denied as Martin Horsell, tipped the ball over the bar.

However, from the resulting corner, Bennett’s flag kick found Shane Hollamby at the back post and he volleyed home on 74 minutes.

Hereford went looking for an equaliser and Billy Murphy’s shot was pushed away by Colm McAdden and then Jennison Mykre-Williams headed wide from a good cross from Mills.

In the final minute of the game, a great ball from Bunting across field found Smart and his lovely strike made it 3-1.

This was the signal for the Hereford fans to make their exit and beat the rush out of the Camrose car park.

A delighted Town boss Brown said: “That was probably our best result of the season. Hereford have the best away record in this league. They are the best team we have played and I still think they will win the league.”

“I am delighted with all my players today and I felt the back three of Dan Bayliss, Shane Hollamby and Guri Demuria were brilliant.”

He added: “Tom (Leggett) came on for his debut as Tim (Wohlfiel) suffered a nasty cut to this foot that needed stiches and I felt he did well. I think he is a player who will go on and play at a much higher level.”

On Tuesday night, Town are at home again when Bishop’s Stortford are the visitors.

They drew 2-2 with high flying Slough Town yesterday and include former Reading Jamie Cureton in their line-up.

Due to the injuries picked up against Hereford, Brown is expected to make a few changes for this game.