SOUTH: Match report - Levis hat-trick sinks Motormen

Written by Jeremy Hill

Redbridge 0
Basingstoke Town 3 (Levis 46, 51 pen, 71)

After an excellent pre-season, Redbridge were brought back down to earth with a bang in their first Nationwide Conference South league game of the season.

Argentinian striker Cristian Levis fired a 26 minute second half hat trick to extend Basingstoke's hoodoo over Redbridge. The Stokes are now unbeaten in five league meetings between the two sides.

The first half saw industrious play from both sides but few chances were created. Levis nearly opened his account after 14 minutes when he latched onto a long clearance from 'Stoke keeper Scott Tarr, after hesitation between Motormen defenders Ben Lewis and Chris Perkins.

Redbridge went close in the 27th minute when Damian Batt released Jay Murray whose cross was laid off by Craig Edwards for Glenn Poole who shot wide of Tarr's upright.

Redbridge nearly took the lead 8 minutes before the break when Vaughan latched on to a ball from Edwards and fired a shot at Tarr who blocked; the ball then came to Batt whose curling shot went just over the angle.

The game came to life in the second half and Basingstoke struck within a minute of the restart. A lofted ball from the back was met with a picture perfect overhead kick from Levis, which beat Motormen stopper Jamie Lunan to his left.

Five minutes later workhorse Martin Whiddeit was body checked in the box by Ben Lewis and Levis stepped up to smash the ball straight down the centre of goal.

Redbridge manager Craig Edwards made immediate changes to bolster the attack with KK Opara and Darryl Plummer replacing Damien Batt and Wayne Vaughan and although the Motormen vastly improved the 'Stoke defence led by the powerful Jason Bristow managed to cope with the pressure.

Levis completed his hat trick in the 71st minute when he picked up the ball and fired into the top right hand corner of the net.

The last 20 minutes saw Redbridge ask questions of the 'Stoke defence, particularly through Poole, Plummer and Lincoln down the left hand side, but there were few clear cut opportunities created and Tarr in the Basingstoke goal wasn't tested as the home side would have liked.

Motormen midfielder Glenn Poole, playing his 150th game for the club was booked in the 74th minute after upending 'Stoke midfielder David Ray.

Fellow Argentinian Sergio Torres had the chance to cap an impressive performance in which he was at the centre of much of the 'Stoke's play, when he stole into the penalty area 87th minute but could only manage a scuffed shot at Lunan.

Levis picked up a booking in the 89th minute for not retreating the full 10 yards but even that could not cast a shadow on the excellent day he had.

Redbridge:
1. Jamie Lunan
2. Kevin Stevens
3. Allan McLeod
4. Ben Lewis
5. Chris Perkins
6. Greg Lincoln
7. Damien Batt (sub
54 mins) 8. Craig Edwards
9. Jay Murray
10. Glenn Poole
11. Wayne Vaughan (sub 54 mins)

Subs
12 Richard Halle (not used)
13 David Bull (not used)
14 KK Opara (54 mins)
15 Darryl Plummer (54 minutes)
16 Alex Fiddes (not used)

Basingstoke Town
1. Scott Tarr
2. Brett Cooper
3. Scott Smith
4. Jason Bristow
5. Liam Parrington
6. David Ray
7. Nathan Stamp (sub 84 mins)
8. Sergio Torres
9. Martin Whiddeit
10. Cristian Levis
11. Stuart Tanfield

Subs
12 Neville Stamp (not used)
13 Jamie McClure (not used)
14 Ricky Allaway (sub 84 mins)
15 Rob Westell (not used)
16 Mark Zawadski (not used)

Referee T Mason Assistant S.A Child Assistant P.B Wright

Attendance 111
Half Time: Redbridge 0-0 Basingstoke Town Full Time Redbridge 0-3 Basingstoke Town