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26.02.2005 at 15:00 The Camrose

Attendance : 324

Basingstoke Town

5 - 1

St Albans City

Referee : J Farries Conference South

Goalscorers
Neville Roach (8)
Neville Roach (53)
Neville Roach (73)
David Ray (36)
Martin Whiddett (79)
Ranbir Marwa (19)
Opening squads
Scott Tarr
Brett Cooper
Neville Stamp
Jason Bristow
Liam Parrington
David Ray
German De La Vega
Sergio Torres
Martin Whiddett
Neville Roach
David Stroud
Paul Bastock
Scott Cousins
Tom Davis
Chris Zoricich
Ben Martin
Matt Hann
Ranbir Marwa
Lee Clarke
Richard Pacquette
Ben Walshe
Chris Seeby
Substitutes
Cristian Levis
Nathan Stamp
Ryan Stephens
Liam Castle
Jamie McClurg
Carl Kavanagh
Luke Cornwall
Thomas Beech
Ricky Perks
Nick Roddis
Substitutions
Cristian Levis -> Neville Roach (77)
Jamie McClurg -> German De La Vega (79)
Ryan Stephens -> Martin Whiddett (82)
Thomas Beech -> Richard Pacquette (55)
Nick Roddis -> Tom Davis (61)
Luke Cornwall -> Ben Walshe (61)
Yellow cards
None None.
Red cards
None Scott Cousins (77)
Match report

Chris Seeby battles for the ball
A St Albans City defence shorn of the outstanding prospect Gary Elphick, through injury, and the experienced Dean Hooper, courtesy of an amazing sixth suspension of the season, was torn apart at the Camrose as Basingstoke Town ended a six match losing streak and nudged the Saints back into what is an enthralling battle to avoid relegation from the Nationwide Conference South.
One-time Saint Neville Roach was the one player to benefit most from City’s poorest display for many months as Town’s leading scorer bagged a hat-trick to nudge City to within just two points of the bottom three. Roach struck his first after just eight minutes when twisting some twelve yards from goal and firing low across Paul Bastock. City put that early setback behind them to draw level on 19 minutes when Matt Hann’s second corner in quick succession was flicked on at the near post by Ram Marwa and into the far corner of the net.
For a while City looked as though they would extend their winning run and add to the pressure on ‘Stoke boss Ernie Howe but that all changed on 36 minutes when the Hampshire side scored a simply magnificent goal. David Stroud, making his home debut, went on a fantastic run that left at least four City players in his wake before he lifted a high cross towards the back post where the unmarked David Ray cracked a glorious volley past Bastock.
Thereafter City fell away badly with a shaky defence left totally exposed by an inept showing by the midfield. Up front City were little better where the hard work of Lee Clarke received scant decent support and once Roach swept home the third Basingstoke goal on 53 minutes matters began to look ominous for the Saints. Manager Colin Lippiatt made three quick substitutions early in the second half but sadly to little effect. A flick by Martin Whiddett on 73 minutes sent Roach scurrying clear of a bemused City defence to complete his hat-trick, with a fortuitous rebound off Bastock, and four minutes later City’s day suffered a further blow when Scott Cousins collected his second, and the Saints seventh, red card of the season following an off the ball clash with Brett Cooper.
Basingstoke made certain of their biggest win over the Saints eleven minutes from time when substitute Cristian Levis squared the ball for the again unmarked Whiddett to score with ease.

Report by David Tavener
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