Bristow praises "dogged" Basingstoke Town (From This is Hampshire)

Bristow praises "dogged" Basingstoke Town

12:00pm Monday 18th February 2013 in Hampshire Sport By John Boyman

BASINGSTOKE Town manager Jason Bristow praised his side’s work ethic after watching them battle to beat Dorchester Town 2-1.

It was not a pretty game, played on a sticky pitch that cut up as the match went on, but Manny Williams’ first two goals for Basingstoke saw the hosts home, although they did have to survive a late scare.

Bristow said: “I thought that we were dogged and workmanlike today. It’s really pleasing that we put in that sort of performance to get three points.

“We knew it would be a hard game and it certainly was not pretty, with the conditions not helping. All three goals were poor but I am really pleased for Manny Williams. He was worked really hard over the course of the last few games and deserved his two goals.”

Williams second goal looked to have secured the points – but Kieffer Moore’s late strike for the visitors meant that Town’s wait for their third clean sheet of the season goes on.

“After his performance on Tuesday, Ashley Bayes deserved a clean sheet and it looked that, having got two goals up, we would be in a position to enjoy the last ten minutes,” Bristow added. “Conceding the goal was disappointing but that is the way it has been all season. It was another avoidable goal from a cross but we saw the game out well.”

The result lifts Town up to 14th in the Blue Square Bet South table, four points clear of the relegation zone and nine points outside the play-off places ahead of a trip to Sutton United tomorrow night (kick-off 7.45pm).

“We have got to find some consistency and push up the table,” Bristow said. “Sutton had a good win today and are a strong, physical side. It will be a very tough game.”

See The Monday Gazette for a full report from Saturday’s game – and log on to basingstokegazette.co.uk/sport for live updates from Sutton tomorrow.