Basingstoke lost 3-0 with a poor performance away at St Albans. The damage was done early as Town were down by two goals in the first ten minutes, with the third coming on the half hour, leaving no way back for Basingstoke. Clarence Park remains a poor ground for 'Stoke, having not won their since February 2004 in the Isthmian League days.

'Stoke were 1-0 down after 6 minutes when Paul Hakin made the most of a simple ball into the box and then the whole Basingstoke team watched as Gary Cohen scored from inside the 6 yard box un-challenged. St Albans completed the scoring just past the half hour mark when a ball from the right wing into the box was converted past Ross Kitteridge confidently by James Fisher. By that time the game as a contest was dead, a game that on paper looked like we had a chance to get something from it. In the end it was damage limitation from 2-0 down.

The second half was an improvement but 'Stoke were just playing out the defeat with no belief that anything could be taken from the game, although a mention has to go to Phi Ruggles who never gave up and was again Basingstoke's main threat going forward.

Town must improve and cut out the poor defending of the last two games if they wish to get anything from a confident free scoring Bath City side on Saturday, a side that won 3-0 at home to Weston Super Mare tonight.

Basingstoke Lineup: Ross Kitteridge, Adam Aimable, Robbie Watkins, Tom Williamson (Jide Ogunbote 72), Joe Dolan, Sean Hankin, Sido Jombarti, Jerome Maledon (Ryan Stephens 55), Alan Tait (Sam Tucknott 64), Phil Ruggles, Matt Warner.

Basingstoke FC Man of the Match: Phil Ruggles

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