BASINGSTOKE Town's Southern League Division One South basement battle with visiting AFC Totton saw them lose 2-0 their Hampshire rivals.

Town manager Dan Brownlie made two changes to the side which won at Barnstaple the week before, with Aaron Watkins returning on goal for the injured Freddie Gee, while new loan signing from AFC Wimbledon Elliott Bolton made his Basingstoke debut in place of Harrison Cliff.

He is the third player from Wimbledon to play on loan for the Dragons this season following in the footsteps of Rueben Collins and Zach Robinson.

The visiting Stags took the lead after six minutes from captain David Allen with his first goal of the season from a header at the far post from a free-kick from inside their own half.

Town's first chance of the game came from their captain Dean Stow as he fires a volley from distance which clips the post.

Soon after Ben Cook forced a save out of the visiting goalkeeper Amadeusz Skrzyniarz and then Ryan Suckling fired over.

Totton hit back with a chance which is saved by Watkins.

Totton then doubled their advantage from the penalty spot after 36 minutes from Craig Feeney and it remained 2-0 as the half-time whistle went.

On the hour mark, Town went close to getting themselves back into the contest as D'andre Brown shot just wide.

The Stags then had a chance to make it three, but Watkins was equal to the shot.

Soon after, good work from Alfie Saunders and Brad Wilson set up Ben Wright, but his shot went over the bar.

Town centre half Josh Edwards was then called into action to break up a Totton attack.

The home side continued to try and get a breakthrough, but in the end the visitors kept a clean sheet their third in four games to take home the three points.

The loss leaves the Dragons one from bottom in the table, while Totton moved up a place to three from bottom.

Next for Town on Saturday is a trip to play-off chasing Cinderford.