BASINGSTOKE Town ended their poor form since the start of December with a brilliant 4-0 win against Staines Town.

A run of just one win since the start of December had seen Basingstoke drop out of the playoff places. So a match at home to the league’s bottom club appeared to be the perfect opportunity to get back on track.

Home fans were made to wait but there was a palpable sense of relief when Robb Sheridan headed the opener midway through the second half and Basingstoke went on to find the net three more times without reply on the way to a comprehensive 4-0 win.

The hosts were the better side in the first half without playing their best. They often got into threatening positions without being able to turn the opportunities into clear cut chances.

Nathan Smart was closest to opening the scoring with a smart volley on the turn that was somehow kept out by visiting ‘keeper Matty Bonnett.

Brad Wilson also tested Bonnett, forcing a low save with a long-range strike.

Staines had a big opportunity to take the lead against the run of play early in the second period following a weak clearance, but Sheridan was in the right place to clear the goalbound shot off the line.

Basingstoke gradually turned up the heat as the half crept on and following a good save from Bonnett from a diving header by George Reid, the visitors’ resistance was finally broken as Sheridan got free to head home Anton Rodgers’ corner.

The goal opened the floodgates and within eight minutes, Basingstoke were three goals ahead. Substitute McKoy Palmer’s trickery was too much for Chris Allen who tripped him, allowing Stefan Brown to double the lead from the spot and Anton Rodgers took advantage of a half-cleared cross falling kindly to him by producing a delightful lob over the stricken Bonnett.

The goalkeeper tried to get back to make the save but Conor Lynch removed any doubt by nudging the ball over the line.

Stand-in keeper Myles Bowman made a fantastic point-blank save to preserve the home side’s clean sheet and the win was wrapped up in stoppage time as Lynch converted Wilson’s square ball across the box from close range.