Basford beat Scarborough to go top of table

Stef Galinski opened the scoring when he powerfully headed home Ryan Wilson’s tempting corner at the back post for his third goal of the season.

Marcus Marshall then notched his first goal for the Club from the penalty spot after Alex Howes was tripped by Neal Bishop before an isolated Kane Richards took advantage of some exposed defending to fire home Basford’s third just after the break.

Marshall added his second of the night with a tap-in after a goalmouth scramble saw the former Rotherham United and Blackburn Rovers finish comfortably past Ryan Whitley and extend Boro’s poor run away from home that has yet to yield a point.

Striker Michael Coulson scored a consolation for the Seadogs late on.

“I’m really happy. If somebody would’ve offered me a 4-1 win, and to go 4-0 up inside 70 minutes, I would’ve snapped their hands off,” manager Steve Chettle said.

“It is very hard work to get results like this and winning football matches. We have to work hard in the first place. You have to take the chances when they come around and tonight, we did that – I’m really, really happy.” he added.

Chettle named an unchanged eleven that beat Stalybridge Celtic at the weekend, with the only switch coming from the bench when Niall Towle was replaced entirely by goalkeeper Kieran Preston who returned from recent injury to take his place in reserve.

United hosted on a run of four successive wins and set about extending that record against promotion contenders Athletic and they made a perfect start after 18 minutes when defender Galinski – joint-highest scorer for the club this season – rose highest to firmly plant Wilson’s fantastic corner past Whitely.

Their lead was doubled ten minutes before the break when Marshall, who made his first appearance of the campaign against in Greater Manchester on Saturday, calmly rolled a penalty past Whitely after Howes was lazily fouled by former-Notts County colleague Bishop.

Scarborough weren’t without their own chances in a fairly disappointing showing and they both fell to talisman Nathan Cartman who was denied by an excellent save by Jordan Pierrepont before his second chance was dragged harmlessly wide.

But the visitors were often the architects of their own downfall and Kane Richards benefitted from some inexcusable and haphazard defending just after the break when he was left all alone to pass an effort around Whitely as an exuberant defensive inquest bore little response.

Marshall then added his second and his side’s fourth of the evening shortly after the hour mark when he tapped home unmarked following a melee in the ‘Boro goal after Richards’ initial shot was blocked following a Kyle Dixon corner.

The Seadogs did manage nothing more than a scant consolation with 15 minutes played when Coulson did well to round substitute Brad Gascoigne before his deflected cross skipped past Pierrepont, but it was too little, too late for Darren Kelly’s side who conceded four for the second successive game on their travels.

In-form United now turn their attention to their FA Trophy game against Alvechurch at Greenwich Avenue on Saturday, and Chettle praised his team, notably Marshall, following their win and recent league form.

“I am delighted for him. We would usually have Matt [Thornhill] as our usual penalty taker, but Marcus, at previous clubs, has been their penalty taker, so it is fantastic to have a player who, not only naturally takes penalties, but wants to take penalties,” Chettle added

“His second is a typical sniper’s goal where he has scored from a couple of yards out. A goal, like Kane, is in the six-yard box and very much a poacher’s finish. It has been a great night for those at the top of the pitch and to get Marcus through without any further problems with his hamstring is another positive for us.”

“I would love a cup run now, starting with Alvechurch on Saturday. We just want to try and win every game. The ambition of this football club is to win every game and see where it gets us and if we can win in the Trophy, it is a big plus for us – hopefully we can build that on top of our recent league form.”

BASFORD UNITED: Jordan Pierrepont, Dom Roma, Ryan Wilson, Declan Dunn, Stef Galinski (c) (Brad Gascoigne 56’), Lewis Carr, Kyle Dixon, Callum Chettle, Marcus Marshall (Rev James 66’), Kane Richards, Alex Howes (James Clifton 73’)

SUBS (not used): Wayde Hines, Kieran Preston (GK)

SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC: Ryan Whitley, Lewis Turner, Ashley Jackson (Josh Barrett 63’), Bailey Gooda, Harry Coates, Will Thornton, Ryan Watson, Neal Bishop, Nathan Cartman, Michael Coulson (c), Kieran Glynn (James Cadman 71’)SUBS (not used): David Brown, Ryan Blott, Ethan Hodson (GK)CAUTIONS: Thornton (foul 31’), Gooda (foul 69’)

REFEREE: Elliot Kaye.

ASSISTANTS: Matthew O’Shea, Jamie Tewson.

MATCH ATTENDANCE: 404.