POOR defending cost Basingstoke Town dear as they slumped to a third consecutive defeat away at Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday.

It was a strange game, with Basingstoke actually playing pretty well for long spells, especially during the first half. However, they didn’t defend well enough as a team, with the midfield failing to give the back four enough protection.

Twice they managed to pull themselves level, only to concede poor goals immediately afterwards, handing the initiative back to Hemel Hempstead, who recorded their first home win of the season and their second victory over Town.

Fortunately for the visitors, most of their rivals at the top of table also failed to win, meaning that they remain fourth in the Vanarama Conference South, with games in hand over all of the sides above them.

However, they will have to defend much better if they are to get anything from their game against second-placed Bromley at The Soccer AM Stadium tomorrow night (kick-off 7.45pm).

Town went into Saturday’s game without four players due to injury. In addition to strikers Liam Enver-Marum and Sam Argent, they were also without forward Lloyd Macklin due to a hamstring problem and midfielder Simon Dunn, who sat the game out with a hip injury.

Shaun McAuley came in for Dunn in the only change to the side that had lost in the FA Cup at AFC Telford United four days earlier, but the injuries left manager Jason Bristow short of attacking options on the bench.

The visitors got off to the worst possible start, with Hemel Hempstead opening the scoring after just four minutes. Having been in a decent attacking position, Town were hit on the break and their midfielders failed to close down Jordan Parkes, whose excellent effort from 25 yards found the bottom corner.

It took the visitors a while to recover from this early setback, but they grew into the game and began to put the home team under pressure.

They were especially dangerous down the left, with Louie Soares and Tom Bird constantly threatening down that side.

Soares’ pace twice got him in, with his low centres just evading McAuley and Manny Williams, while home goalkeeper Laurie Walker almost fumbled a Bird cross into his own net.

Hemel were on the back foot, but they almost doubled their lead when Oliver Hawkins’ flick found Zane Banton, whose effort from a narrow angle went seemed to clip the near post on its way wide.

More good play down the left, this time from Bird, resulted in a shooting chance for James Harper, but the former Reading midfielder fired straight at Walker.

Parkes fired another shot from distance narrowly over on a rare foray forward for the hosts, but Town generally looked the more dangerous side.

Williams did well down the right before finding Chris Flood at the far post and his effort was only kept out by Moussa Diarra’s outstanding goal-line clearance, while Bird saw Walker keep out his low shot.

The visitors finally drew level on 35 minutes. Bird got in down the left and while his low centre was missed by Soares, Williams was on hand to slide in at the far post and find the net.

However, parity lasted just three minutes. Parkes picked the ball up on halfway and cut in from the right. An overlapping run drew Bird away from the ball and again Town’s midfielders failed to close him down, though the finish was spectacular, an outstanding effort from 25 yards finding the top corner.

Despite the setback, it was Basingstoke who finished the half in the ascendancy. A ball in from the left found Flood, but Walker made an excellent save at close quarters, with Jorell Johnson completing the clearance from underneath his own crossbar.

More chances followed, with McAuley denied by another fine save from the ’keeper, who also denied Bird and Soares in stoppage time at the end of the half.

The second half got off to something of a slow start. Town had the first half-chance, Bird heading onto the roof of the net from Nathan Smart’s cross, but it was the hosts who then managed to get on top.

Stuart Moore made a good saved to deny Parkes a third goal, while Oliver Hawkins headed a good chance over. The best chance fell to Parkes on 72 minutes, but he was denied by Moore after finding himself in behind.

That save looked even more important as the visitors went straight up the other end and equalised, Jamie Brown poking the ball home with the goalkeeper out of position after an earlier shot had been blocked.

However, for the second time in the game, Town undid their hard work inside five minutes. David Ray gave the ball away on halfway and James Potton played fellow substitute Jamal Lowe through. Moore did excellently to make a fine double save, but Lowe was able to force the ball home at the third attempt.

Three minutes later, and the game was up for Town. Substitute James Potton saw his effort deflected out for a corner and Parkes’ ball into the box was mishandled by Moore, who carried the ball over the line, though Parkes was credited with his hat-trick goal.

The hosts almost had a fifth as Basingstoke just about survived a massive scramble in their own six-yard box. Town had the final word, Flood firing home from the edge of the area to reduce the deficit deep into injury-time, but the final whistle went almost as soon as Hemel restarted the match.

Click here to watch a post-match interview with Basingstoke Town manager Jason Bristow

PLAYER RATINGS

Stuart Moore – 7 (out of 10)

At fault for the fourth goal but otherwise impressive once more. No chance with the first two goals and made a string of good saves, including a double stop that almost denied Lowe the third.

Nathan Smart – 7

Didn’t do anything wrong defensively and tried his best to get forward.

Tom Bird – 8

Excellent in the first half, causing numerous problems down the left. Unable to have the same impact after the break.

Jamie Brown – 6

Scored but got caught the wrong side of the ball on too many occasions and gave possession away cheaply.

Jay Gasson – 6

Not at fault for the goals but had a couple of shaky moments.

David Ray – 5

A poor second half for the normally reliable centre-back. Gave possession away two or three times, including in the lead up to the third goal, and was booked for a mistimed challenge that could have led to another goal.

James Harper – 5

Still off the pace. Gave the ball away on numerous occasions and failed to protect the back four.

Shaun McAuley – 6

Another quiet game for the attacking midfielder. Failed to make the most of a fine opportunity in the first half.

Louie Soares – 8

Outstanding in the first half, but starved of the ball after the break.

Chris Flood – 7

Lively throughout and took his goal well.

Manny Williams – 8 (Gazette Star Man)

Found the net with his only real chance and impressed throughout, holding the ball up and bringing other players into the game.

Subs (not used): Rice, Jenkinson, Owusu, Case, Smalley.

Hemel Hempstead Town: Walker, Asafu-Adjaye, Connolly, Parkes, Johnson, Diarra, Talbot, Daly (sub Thorne 62min), Hawkins (sub Lowe 70), Banton (sub Potton 58min), Saunders. Subs (not used): Lee, Simmonds.

Attendance: 557