BASINGSTOKE Town manager Frank Gray hailed the form of Greg Draper after the striker hit all of his team’s goals in Saturday’s 3-2 win over Dover Athletic.

The home side went behind early on but Draper’s 15-minute hat-trick put Town 3-1 up at the break and, despite conceding in the opening minute of the second half, they held on to claim three points.

Draper has now found the net in three successive games and Gray is delighted with the New Zealand international’s form.

“Greg is the best natural finisher at the club and you saw that today as he scored three goals from three chances,” the Town boss said. “He has always had the ability but it took him time to adjust to football in this country and he has had a few injuries. This is the first time he has been really fit in a while and he is showing what he is capable of.”

Draper admits that he found life in English football tough during the early part of the season – and thinks that the fixture backlog has helped him play his best football.

“I found it hard before Christmas but since then we have been playing twice a week and that has helped me get into a rhythm,” he said. “I definitely feel a lot better and I am certainly scoring more goals, which is the main thing.

“I have had a few chances this season and not scored so it was really nice to put three away today and claim the match ball.”

Town have spent much of this season struggling for goals but the form of Draper and Delano Sam-Yorke, who have been paired together due to David Pratt’s shoulder injury, have left Gray with a real selection headache.

Pratt is now back in contention for a place in the starting 11 but may have to settle for a place on the substitute’s bench when Basingstoke travel to Chelmsford tonight, such is the form of the two strikers currently playing.

Gray added: “It’s a great problem to have. A few weeks ago nobody could have envisaged not starting David Pratt, but things change so fast in football. Greg Draper is among the goals, and while Delano did not score today, he is a real presence for us in attack.”

See The Monday Gazette for a full report.