Basingstoke Town manager pleased with FA Cup comeback (From This is Hampshire)
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Basingstoke Town manager pleased with FA Cup comeback
1:00pm Monday 24th September 2012 in Hampshire Sport By John Boyman
Tim Sills got Basingstoke Town's equalising goal in the win over Weymouth.
THE FA Cup dream remains alive for Basingstoke Town after they beat lower league Weymouth 3-1 to reach the third qualifying round of the competition.
The hosts trailed early on at the Camrose on Saturday but hit back to lead at the break thanks to strikes from Tim Sills and Ross Adams, while an impressive second half display was capped by a goal for new signing Callum McNish.
Town boss Jason Bristow said: “It’s a good result and pleasing to have come from behind to get it.
“I was not too happy with our first half performance. We needed to press them higher up the pitch but we went in 2-1 ahead, came out for the second half and took the game to them.
“It could have been a lot more comfortable than it was in the end but that is the cup and the longer it went on the more they were going to throw caution to the wind.”
Basingstoke wasted a host of clear chances and endured some nervous moments before former Southampton and Exeter midfielder McNish made the game safe in injury-time.
The goal topped off an impressive debut that had Bristow in raptures.
“Callum had a fantastic debut,” the Town manager said. “He was excellent, showed composure in tight areas and made it a bit easier for Shaun McAuley to get back into the swing of things.
“I was delighted that he got a goal in the end because he deserved it. “He has signed on non-contract terms but we are hoping to sort something out so we have him here long-term.”
Basingstoke are back in Blue Square Bet South action tomorrow night, when they make the trip to Staines Town (kick-off 7.45pm).
The match is a rearranged fixture required because the original match was abandoned after just six minutes, when heavy thunderstorms made the pitch unplayable.
“The win sets us up nicely for Tuesday,” Bristow added. “Staines are on a bad run and will be looking to break that so we have to be careful.”
