RICHARD Gillespie's double provided evidence that Bashley could find themselves living the life of Ryman in their new division this season.

After their move from the Southern League to the Isthmian in the close-season non-league shake-up, Bash opened up their campaign with a well-earned 2-1 victory at Croydon.

And it was last season's top scorer Gillespie who once again grabbed the goal-getting mantle to kick-off Geoff Butler's managerial reign in the finest possible style.

Not that the former Salisbury boss was around to see it, sadly.

Butler's family commitments dictated reserve team manager Paul Darke took the reins in South London.

However it made little difference as the team produced a hard working display, laced with spells of fluid passing, to head home with maximum points, much to the delight of the stand-in supremo.

"Considering some of the lads only met each other for the first time before kick-off, we looked a good unit," enthused Darke.

"Everything seemed to be set against us. We couldn't find the ground and got there a bit late but the senior players really stood up to be counted.

"We started brightly and should have been further ahead at half-time as they hadn't really troubled us. We had the lion's share of the game. I'm not going to get carried away but the signs were encouraging and the team spirit was fantastic."

Bash gave debuts to youngster Sayem Kabir and defender Andrew Julius, recommended by former Cherries midfielder Danny Bailey, who played under Butler at Weymouth.

And they could have been in front within the first 60 seconds after Danny Gibbons headed over from a corner.

And it was from a similar opening in the 28th minute that Andy Culliford saw his header brilliantly tipped away by Croydon goalkeeper John Odlum.

But the New Forest side did gain the advantage that their superiority deserved on the half-hour mark when good pressure by Gillespie won him possession and he held his nerve to finish expertly into the corner.

The visitors picked up where they left off in the second half as Gibbons' cross from the right was met firmly by the head of Gillespie, only for Odlum to produce another top-drawer save.

Disaster struck on 58 minutes though. Julius showed his inexperience, misjudging a long ball and Ashley Martin pounced to level things up.

Gillespie and Wakefield missed chances to hand the lead back to the away side, but the goal-hungry Gillespie proved the match winner by diverting the ball home from Julius' knockdown with 20 minutes to play.

Bashley: Elm, Kabir, Ferrett, Gee, Ju-lius, Jones, Adams, Culliford, Gibbons, Gillespie (Grant 79), Wakefield (Mama-dousa 79). Unused sub: Harper.