Basingstoke Town exited the relegation zone for the first time since mid-September with a facile win over a dire and undisciplined Weston-super-Mare outfit on Saturday.
With right back Steve Dell on duty with the reserves as he recuperated from a calf injury, manager Francis Vines named an unchanged side from the one which beat Bishops Stortford.
Basingstoke started the game well enough, and had enjoyed most of the possession.
But, not for the first time this season, there was little in the way of end product and they went one down on 16 minutes when an Andy Gurney (Westons captain) free kick from halfway caught Stuart Searle off his line.
Undaunted, Basingstoke pressed on regardless and, in the 39th minute, got their reward.
Carl Gibbs was fouled as he attempted to break down the left and, from the resulting free kick, Anthony Storey delivered a ball into the box, which eluded everyone and went in at the far corner.
Buoyed by the equaliser, Basingstoke went ahead just four minutes later with a quality goal from Matt Warner.
Picking up the ball in the centre of the park, Warner beat three players before firing a superb low shot into the far corner.
Westons task then became even harder as, just before the interval, Gurney received an automatic red card for raising his arm and elbowing Storey.
In the second half, with more attacking football, Basingstoke denied Weston the opportunity to get back into the game.
Weston defender Stephen Reed headed against his own post under pressure from a Warner cross and Dean Lodge had a shot on target from range.
The conclusive third goal came on the hour when a Lodge cross from the right found Taylor who, unmarked at the far post, headed over Ryan Northmore, the Weston keeper, and into the far corner for Taylors 18th league goal of the season, and 20th in all.
Weston didnt initially give up, and almost got themselves back into contention when a Reed free kick hit the bar with Searle reduced to the role of mere spectator as the ball floated past him and against the woodwork.
But Warner then hit the post himself with a low left-foot shot and then Weston imploded with Sam Bailey, already given a yellow card earlier in the game, given a second yellow (swiftly followed by a red for two bookable offences) for dissent with 10 minutes to play.
With Weston now down to nine men, Basingstoke should really have added to their tally, but Taylor uncharacteristically wasted two good opportunities and David Ray saw a header strike the post and the rebound was cleared off the line.
Basingstoke now travel to face bogey side Welling (winners at The Camrose in both league and FA Trophy this term) at Dartford, knowing that another win from their last three games might now be enough to ensure they avoid the drop. |
