POWERFUL forward Ryan Moss played a starring role in his team's superb win at in-form Banbury and then highlighted the important contribution of his experienced strike partner Dave Town.

Moss headed his second goal in as many games to seal a deserved victory for the New Forest side on Saturday, after loanee Danny Smith had handed Steve Riley's team a second-half lead.

And Moss revealed he is enjoying playing alongside former Cherries frontman Town in the Bash attack.

He said: "I'm pleased with my form and I think in the last three or four games me and Towner (Dave Town) have linked up quite well.

"In the first couple when we first started we weren't scoring but in the last two games I've put two in and I'm happy with that.

"Playing with Towner makes my job easier because I'm a big target man and I run the middle line and he picks up little bits and pieces and creates things for other people."

Moss, who talked up Bashley's Southern Premier Division promotion hopes, felt the team's performance meant they deserved to claim maximum points.

"I think we dominated 75 per cent of the game," he told the Daily Echo.

"We had a few chances in the first half and didn't quite get that luck. And then in the second half we had two shots, got two goals and came away with the three points."

The strong striker, whose pace and power proved a constant problem for the Banbury defence, added: "We've got four or five games in hand on a few teams and we've just got to push on now."

Key defender Pete Castle returned to the Bash backline at Banbury after missing the 1-0 win over Swindon Supermarine through suspension.

And the former Reading man had few problems keeping Nicky Gordon, the hosts' in-form striker, under control at the Spencer Stadium.

Bashley's fine defensive effort was bettered only by their midfield display, where Smith and Craig Davis were dominant.

It was Smith who put the Foresters ahead in the 68th minute. Having spotted Banbury keeper Andy Wheeler off his line, the former Cherries youngster curled a looping 20-yard effort over the stranded stopper.

For long periods it had seemed as if Riley's troops would be denied by a lack of fortune in front of goal.

They rattled the crossbar twice before the break, with Moss's vicious strike going close before he linked up superbly with Town, who saw his brilliant shot cannon back off the goal frame.

Winger Justin Keeler, who squandered a golden opportunity after 16 minutes, completed a hat-trick of hard luck when he saw a 52nd-minute drive come back off the far post.

And Riley would surely have been getting his ruler out to measure the goals had Smith not netted before Moss sealed the points five minutes from time with a stooping, close-range header.

Bashley: Elm, Gazzard (Morant, 55), Ferrett, Castle, Archbold, Smith, Hardwell, Davis, Moss, Town (Tarr, 70), Keeler (Wakefield, 87). Unused subs: Keeping, Hollick.

Referee: Nigel Field (West Haddon)

Attendance: 320