JAMES Taylor is confident that when he nets his first goal for Basingstoke Town it will open the floodgates to more striking success.

The 31-year-old has had little luck since his arrival from Eastleigh in September, missing two penalties and also being denied by some inspired goalkeeping in his nine games so far.

But it isn't getting him down. "It took me 10 games to score for Havant after I joined them and I went on to score 30 goals that season," he said.

"That's the way it goes, so I'm not too worried, although of course I would have liked to have scored before now.

"The penalties would've been an easier way to get me started, so it was disappointing to miss them. But once I get one, I'll get on a run of goals."

After joining them in the summer, Taylor played only two games up front for Eastleigh - the rest he was used as a centre-back - in his month at the club before Ernie Howe came in for him during Eastleigh's squad cuts, made after their poor start to the Conference South campaign.

"I was pleased to take up the chance to join Basingstoke - I wasn't playing where I wanted to, up front, at Eastleigh," he said. "I came up to see Ernie before a Thursday night training session and signed a two-year deal."

The Southampton man went on: "I have enjoyed coming here, even though there have been a few bad points and we've not won as many games as we should have.

"They are a good set of lads, but need to toughen up a bit. Once they get that hardness, we will have a good team and results will improve."

Taylor recently sat out two league matches, against Newport and Weymouth, with a back injury he sustained in the Hampshire Cup win over Havant.

"I don't usually miss games, so that's been one of the bad points," he said.

The other sour note was the altercation with a group of supporters and "one in particular" who gave him foul-mouthed abuse as he left the field after the club's disappointing FA Cup exit to Chippenham.

The scale of it provoked him into an angry, gesticulating response. Talking about the incident, he said: "All of the players were getting abuse from one section of the crowd.

"We weren't playing well and you do have to take stick from supporters. It's part and parcel of football.

"But one idiot went too far and singled me out for abuse. My family and my four-year-old son were nearby and they shouldn't have to hear that sort of language or see that behaviour. They had to move, it was that bad.

"That's what angered me the most and that's why I reacted the way I did. Perhaps I shouldn't have, but I did. He went too far.

"But I haven't seen him at a game since and I hope I don't again. Apart from that incident, the fans have been very supportive of me."

Taylor, who spent three years at Bashley and six years at Havant before his ill-fated spell at Eastleigh, was asked if the criticism had acted as an extra motivation to prove doubters wrong.

"Yes and no. I don't need anything to spur me on when I play, but there is always satisfaction when you prove people wrong."

Taylor is a past winner of four England non-league side caps and an ex-Southern league golden boot winner.

And he hopes his experience can be an asset to Town, alongside either Martin Whiddett or new arrival Ashan Holgate, leading the line.

"Martin and I are the senior players in the side and we must take a bit of responsibility on the pitch.

"Obviously Martin is out injured for some time now, but I think we can have a decent partnership when he's fit again.

"But Ashan did well in his first game against Thurrock, getting his goal, and I enjoyed playing up there with him, so I hope he will be staying on for a bit and we can both score goals for Basingstoke."

First published: Thursday, November 17, 2005