Wilkinson happy with encouraging performance

We started on a run of four friendlies against Conference sides by entertaining near-neighbours Basingstoke Town, who, after a fairly even first half scored twice after the interval to take the honours. Once more, there were a number of new faces and a series of substitutions which makes it difficult to read a great deal into the result, although our performance was encouraging as we build up to a tough start to our league programme in which we begin with a trip to Weymouth, followed by a visit from Poole and a mid-week trip to Truro, it could hardly have been more difficult!
Both teams started cautiously, bur the visitors gained several corners as we gave the ball away all too easily, and it was Basingstoke who took the lead after 20 minutes with a well-taken goal by Manny Williams, but we went close on several occasions before James Clarke rifled a splendid equalizer into the roof of the net after 38 minutes.
Although the game continued to be evenly matched, Basingstoke should have retaken the lead when they wasted a penalty, but two goals from unidentified triallists in the 61st and 75th minutes saw the visitors take the spoils in an entertaining match.