Basingstoke Town 1 Sutton United 0

THE SCORELINE may have only read 1-0 at the end of full-time but Basingstoke Town were well worth the three points and deserved to win by more.

The winner came from Craig McAllister on 70 minutes after a good spell of home pressure.

Town manager Ernie Howe said: "I was really pleased with the team's performance and we could have won by more than one goal.

"The first half was dead but we looked sharper in the second half. It was just a shame we did not add a second goal."

Town gave a full debut to Max Rooke in place of the injured Glenn Howes and also had Jonathan Paul Mills - better known as JP Mills - on the bench, having joined the club on a month's loan from Southampton's Academy.

The only chance of a first half which Town had very much the better of fell to Neville Stamp but his 25-yard shot was punched away by Andy Pape.

After the break, the home side went looking for the goal they deserved as Alex Ewin went close with a 20-yard volley and, a minute later, McAllister fired just over.

A corner after 57 minutes was cleared out to the impressive Rooke on the edge of the box and his cross in saw Steve Hemmings just fail to make contact.

Two minutes later, Ian Dickens, who was always available as the extra wide man for Ewin, sent in a cross but McAllister was unable to get the telling touch.

The home side were not to be denied and when Ewin, on the right, found Neville Roach, the livewire striker sent the ball across the face of goal. Sutton's Ryan Palmer pushed the ball past his own 'keeper and McAllister at the far post slotted home.

After that, the visitors tried to hit back but solid defending and good tackling in midfield saw Town take the deserved three points.

Tomorrow night, Town travel to Cowes Sports in the second round of the Hampshire Senior Cup. Howe said: "It is not going to be easy but we take the confidence from the Sutton win into the game."

Ricky Allaway is the doubt for the contest as he has a sore calf.

Basingstoke Town: Tarr, Dickens, Stamp, Elad, Hemmings, Allaway, Rooke, Gibbens, McAllister, Roach, Ewin. Subs (not used): Ray, Mills, Graham, Frost, Foster.

Sutton: Pape, Timothy (sub Gray 78min), Hollands, Palmer, Beale, Honey, Bolt (sub Hewitt 72min), Corbett, Fowler, Hanlan, Gonslaves. Sub (not used): Howard.