United choked by Stoke (20.03.04)

THE Magpies failed to create any consistent pressure, as they disappointingly went down 2-1 in a six-pointer away to Basingstoke Town on Saturday.
Playing into a strong wind, the Magpies finished the first half trailing 1-0, thanks to a 24th minute header from Craig McAllister.
Argentinian Sergio Torres set up the chance with a deft ball to Neville Stamp on the left, who shrugged off a weak challenge from Peter Dean before dropping the ball between two defenders for McAllister to steer inside the left-hand upright.
Frustratingly, the goal was the first real action in a generally scrappy first half, from which neither side emerged with much credit.
However, unlike United, the hosts did at least create a few chances and would have gone 2-0 up after 32 minutes, but for a brilliant goalline clearance from Andy Dugdale.
With the strong, gusting wind in their backs for the second half, United might have been expecting to reel their hosts in.
But, with just four minutes played, Basingstoke delivered the sucker punch, when Neville Roach banged home a rebound from close range, with slack marking to blame.
The visitors got back on track on 51 minutes, when Brendan Gallen thrashed the ball home from the edge of the box following a corner.
In an attempt to force the pace of the game, manager John Dreyer then opted for fresh legs, throwing Craig Farley and Danny Bolt into the fray, in place of the tiring Peter Dean and Steve Sanders.
Farley’s first touch showed what United had been missing, as he charged at the heart of the Basingstoke defence to win a corner.
Bolt stung Scott Tarr’s hands soon after, as the game began to sway United’s way.
Unfortunately, the hosts upped their own game to match and were soon threatening to score a third, with Roach drifting a lobbed shot just over the bar, while Torres flashed a firm shot just wide of the post.
Bolt replied with two cleanly struck efforts in quick succession at the other end, but it was the hosts who ended the game on the front foot, with Wilson called into action in the dying minutes to stop Roach’s rasping shot from 15 yards out.
The defeat leaves the Magpies four points adrift of the promotion places, with games fast running out.

ON THE SLIDE: United’s fortunes took a dip in Basingstoke on Saturday, despite the best efforts of Danny Bolt (front) and Rob Haworth (rear). Picture courtesy of Nigel Keene.