BASINGSTOKE Town made their fans sweat before giving them three points as a slightly belated Christmas present at The Soccer AM Stadium yesterday afternoon.

First-half goals from Louie Soares and David Ray seemed to have the hosts in control against bottom-of-the-table Staines, but Town spurned several opportunities to increase their lead further and found themselves under pressure as the game wore on.

The visitors grabbed a lifeline 14 minutes from time, substitute Romone Rose finding the net the halve the deficit, but while they had chances to pull level, Basingstoke held out to end a run of five Vanarama Conference South games without a win.

The result saw Town climb up a place to seventh in the table, two points outside the play-off places, but they made heavy weather of a side lacking confidence after losing 12 of their previous 13 games.

Staines actually passed the ball quite well in midfield and were able to put Town under pressure in the second half, but they were unable to create many clear chances and looked very shaky in defence.

Basingstoke manager Jason Bristow made two changes to the side who had drawn 0-0 away at Gosport Borough six days earlier.

Rob Dickie, a teenage centre-back, made his debut after being signed on a month-long loan from Reading, replacing Ryan Case, while Jamie Brown came in for Nathan Smart as Town switched from 3-5-2 to a midfield diamond. Simon Dunn, Manny Williams and Liam Enver-Marum remained sidelined by injury.

Staines made a reasonably bright start but it was Town who opened the scoring after just eight minutes, Louie Soares lobbing the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper after latching on to Pat Cox’s knock-down.

More chances followed for the hosts, but Shaun McAuley fired over from the edge of the area and Soares blasted an even better opening off-target.

Chris Flood tested Staines goalkeeper Jack Turner with a cross-shot before he thought he had doubled the lead, nipping in to volley home after another Cox knock-down, but the flag was up for offside.

After a scrappy period where neither side was able to take complete control, the game sprang back into life just before half-time.

Calum Willock’s miss-hit shot fell kindly for Elliott Charles, but he blasted well wide, and Town got their second goal in injury-time at the end of the half. Tom Bird put a teasing corner into the six-yard box and Ray ran in unmarked to head home.

That should have been the game won, and Town did have the first opportunity of the second half. Having earlier slipped as he went to shoot, Flood broke quickly but his low shot didn’t have enough curl on it to creep inside the far post.

From the hour mark onwards, Staines managed to get on top, with Town defending deeper and deeper as the rain got heavier.

Home goalkeeper Stuart Moore dropped a corner and was lucky to see Justyn Roberts bundle the ball wide, before making a decent save to deny Ashley Lodge from the edge of the area.

Another chance fell to Charles, but he headed wide when well placed, while Dickie made an important block to stop Stephane Ngamvoulou's shot finding the corner of the net.

Flood should have sealed the game with 14 minutes to go, but he was unable to take the ball around Turner after a slip in the defence left him with just the goalkeeper to beat.

It should have been 3-0, but seconds later it was 2-1, Rose poking the ball home from close range after a nice team move.

Staines piled on the pressure, but were unable to create a chance of note and Flood had another chance to score in the final minute, heading Bird’s free-kick wide.

The visitors created one chance in stoppage time, but Ngamvoulou shot straight at Moore from the edge of the box.

Soares had a chance to seal the game, but while he could not beat Turner after being played in by Dickie, Town were able to see it out for a much-needed win ahead of a tough trip to Ebbsfleet United tomorrow.

Click here to watch a post-match interview with Basingstoke Town manager Jason Bristow

PLAYER RATINGS

Stuart Moore – 6 (out of 10)

No chance with the goal. Made one decent save but found it hard in difficult conditions and looked uneasy when Staines put crosses into the area.

Robbie Rice – 7

Another solid display, this time at right-back.

Tom Bird – 7

Got up and down the left flank well and put in a really good corner to set up the second goal.

Andrew Jenkinson – 5

Not his day. Showed some nice touches, but gave the ball away far too often.

Rob Dickie – 7

A solid debut. Did everything asked of him.

David Ray – 8

Another impressive display capped with a well-taken goal.

Jamie Brown – 6

A threat in the air but gave the ball away too much.

Shaun McAuley – 7

Started the game really well but faded in the second half.

Pat Cox – 7

No real chances in front of goal but played the target-man role well, setting up a goal.

Chris Flood – 6

Will be disappointed not to have got his name on the scoresheet after getting into some good positions.

Louie Soares – 8 (Gazette Star Man)

Another busy performance. Took up good positions and produced a fine finish to open the scoring.

SUBSTITUTES

Lloyd Macklin (for Cox 56min) – 6

No real impact on the game as Town struggled in the second half.

James Harper (for Jenkinson 79min) – 6

Brought on to calm things down in midfield.

Subs (not used): Smart, Argent, Case.

Staines Town: Turner, Felix, Worsfold, Ngamvoulou, Roberts, Ifil, Lodge, Aribo, Willock (sub Rose 64min), Ekim (sub Bassett 84min), Charles. Subs (not used): Neville, Boakye, Clarke.

Attendance: 518