Basingstoke put on a show of counter-attacking football to run away from struggling Merstham on Saturday with four second-half goals.

George Reid bagged a brace while being ably supported by Brad Wilson who, not content with scoring once himself, assisted the other four in a 5-1 win.

Chances came at both ends early on, Ezio Touray was foiled twice by home keeper Mo Otuyo when put through one-on-one while at the other end, Alpha Diallo had a close range shot blocked on the line.

The home side hit the front on 20 minutes, recent signing Aaron Goode taking advantage of a ball dropping in the box to thump home.

Basingstoke levelled from the spot with 10 minutes left in the half as Goode brought Wilson down and James Clark beat Otuyo from the spot with an excellent penalty.

Basingstoke started the second half perfectly with Reid rounding off one of the moves of the season.

A delicious backheel flick from Ezio Touray was followed by a slide-rule pass through the defence by Wilson to pick out Reid’s run and the winger rounded Otuyo and delivered an immaculate finish from the tightest of angles.

Playing from behind, Merstham pushed forward, putting pressure on the Basingstoke box and forcing some last-ditch clearances but Basingstoke looked like scoring every time they broke out.

Touray could’ve made it three after Wilson beat the onrushing Otuyo to a loose ball outside the box and found him but Luke Read got in the way to protect the otherwise unguarded net.

Wilson was the provider when ‘Stoke’s third goal arrived, teeing up Reid to cut in and drive his second goal across Otuyo and Wilson went clear soon after to slot a tidy fourth into the net.

The final flourish was added by substitute Stefan Brown, getting across the near post to meet Wilson’s low cross with a tricky finish eight minutes from time.