BASINGSTOKE Town's miserable start to the National League South season continued as they were thumped 5-1 at home by mid-table Eastbourne Borough on Saturday.

The defeat, winless Basingstoke's fifth in nine games at the start of the campaign, saw Jason Bristow's men slip to 21st in the table, with just goal difference keeping them off the bottom.

In Town's defence, the final score certainly flattered Eastbourne. The visitors scored with their only real effort of the first half to lead at the break and took nearly all of the opportunities that came their way with Basingstoke chasing the game in the second half.

However, the scoreline does tell a story. Defensively, Town were poor, and three of the five goals conceded certainly could have been prevented.

Going forward, while they got into good areas and were able to get efforts in on goal, they rarely seriously tested the visiting goalkeeper. There was a lack of creativity when it came to the final ball, something that has been a problem all season, and when chances were created, they were unable to take them.

Perhaps more worryingly, while they had been very much in the game for the opening hour, it was only when they went three goals down that Town started to play with the tempo and urgency that had served them so well the previous season.

Had they played like that from the start, the result could have been very different, but the pace of their play was too slow to really worry Eastbourne early on.

To make matters worse for Bristow, chairman Rafi Razzak was in the crowd for the first time this season.

Razzak spoke to Bristow at length before the game and also addressed the players, while there was a long conversation between the chairman and the coaching staff on the pitch after the match, with raised voices audible from the sidelines.

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Bristow made just one change to the side that had drawn at Hemel Hempstead Town a week earlier, with Simon Dunn replacing new father Liam Enver-Marum.

The tempo of their play may not have been as high as Bristow would have liked, but Town did start brightly, with Chris Flood just failing to get on the end of Nathan Smart's cross and Louie Soares getting in a shot that was easily saved by Lewis Carey in the Eastbourne goal.

Smart saw his angled drive blocked, while a low corner just evaded both David Ray and Flood.

Ray had a great chance to put Town ahead on 28 minutes. A well-worked short corner resulted in Bird's cross finding the head of the centre-back, who was unmarked but headed over from 10 yards.

Four minutes later, Eastbourne took the lead. A free-kick was never properly cleared, but there seemed to be little danger when Miguel Baptista collected the ball with his back to goal on the edge of the area. However, a neat touch off his chest set up a shooting opportunity and the midfielder hooked an excellent volley into the corner of the net.

Town continued to create half-chances, with Flood putting a couple of efforts too close to Carey and Sam Akinde heading over from a Soares corner, but they went in at half-time a goal down.

The hosts had the first chance of the second half, but Simon Dunn could only volley over the crossbar under pressure.

The game was more open after the break, but it was Eastbourne who began to threaten more. They were fortunate to survive when both Ray and Jay Gasson missed a cross, with Elliot Romain unable to divert the ball on target.

Darren Lok then fired wide, while Kane Haysman's effort almost squirmed through the legs of Howe and Robbie Rice did well to deny Romain.

At the other end, Dunn volleyed onto the roof of the net after a weak punch from Carey, while James Harper and Smart both went close during something of a scramble in the visitors' penalty area.

However, two Eastbourne goals in the space of five minutes effectively killed the game.

On 64 minutes, a cross from the right was missed by Ray, gifting Romain the ball on the edge of the six-yard-box. He made no mistake, firing through the legs of Howe to double the lead.

Then, five minutes later, Jack Evans collected the ball in space 30 yards out and crashed a fantastic shot in off the underside of the crossbar.

Town managed to find a response two minutes later, Flood finding the corner of the net with a fine header from Bird's cross.

For 10 minutes, they played some really nice stuff, with substitutes Shaun McAuley and Harrison Gilkes having an impact.

Sadly, there was no end product. Dunn went closest, poking wide from Gilkes' low centre, but there was to be a further sting in the tail for the hosts.

Smart made a crucial interception after a Gasson error, but the reprieve was short-lived as Gavin McCullum rose unmarked to head home the resulting corner at the near post.

Things got even worse in injury-time. Town were in disarray at the back, with the ball played across the face of goal twice before Kane Haysman slid in to add a fifth.

Town almost grabbed a second as time ran out, but they were denied by a series of brave blocks during a scramble in the Eastbourne area.

Basingstoke will be keen to bounce back tonight, when they travel to St Albans City. Visit basingstokegazette.co.uk/sport for live text coverage from Clarence Park.

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

PLAYER RATINGS

Aaron Howe - 6 (out of 10)
May feel he might have done better with the first two goals, but otherwise largely blameless.

Robbie Rice - 6
Gave the ball away in the build-up to the second goal.

Tom Bird - 7
The one Town player who looked capable of creating something. Set up the goal and also crossed for David Ray's big chance.

James Harper - 5
Failed to protect the defence as Eastbourne were able to pass around him. Little impact going forward and a touch fortunate not to recieve two yellow cards in the first half.

Jay Gasson - 5
A bad day at the office. Caught out for pace in wide areas and looked uncomfortable.

David Ray - 5
Made the mistake that led to the crucial second goal and failed to convert a big chance at 0-0. Nothing like his normal commanding presence at the back.

Louie Soares - 6
Showed a few nice touches but unable to really get into the game.

Nathan Smart - 6
Worked hard, but little in the way of end product.

Sam Akinde - 7 (Gazette Star Man)
Unlucky to be substituted. Held the ball up well and created openings with his pace and power.

Chris Flood - 7
Took his goal well, but failed to really test the Eastbourne goalkeeper with several other chances.

Simon Dunn - 6
Worked hard, but struggled to get into the game. Failed to make the most of a couple of chances in front of goal.

SUBSTITUTES

Lloyd Macklin (for Rice 68min) - 6
Barely had a touch during the time he was on the pitch.

Harrison Gilkes (for Akinde 72min) - 7
Deserves a chance to show what he can do from the start. Lively and direct.

Shaun McAuley (for Soares 72min) - 7
Another who impressed after coming on. Bright touches got Town onto the front foot.

Subs (not used): Manny Williams, Will Salmon Eastbourne Borough: Lewis Carey, Craig Stone, Sam Beale, Miguel Baptista (sub Bouwe Bosma 88min), Ian Simpemba, Adam Watts, Jack Evans, Kiran Khinda-John, Darren Lok (sub Nathanial Pinney 72min), Elliot Romain (sub Gavin McCullum 72min), Kane Haysman

Subs (not used): Ryan Worrall, Isaac Nahemie

Attendance: 432