AN EXCELLENT display from Chris Flood saw Basingstoke Town progress through to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.

The Town striker scored three times and was a menace to the Slough Town defence throughout Saturday's tie at The Camrose, playing a massive part as Basingstoke recorded their second win in the space of five days.

It was a classic cup tie, with plenty of goals, a red card and underdogs Slough of the Southern League giving a good account of themselves throughout.

Flood gave Town an early lead, and while they were pegged back from the penalty spot before half-time, they seemed in control when the striker completed his hat-trick in the early stages of the second period.

However, there were further twists to come, with Shaun McAuley picking up two bookings in quick succession to leave Basingstoke a man light for the final 30 minutes.

Slough set up a dramatic finale by making it 3-2 with 10 minutes to play, but Lloyd Macklin made the game safe in injury-time.

Going forward, Town impressed, but nagging concerns remain over the quality of their defending. In addition to scoring twice, Slough hit the crossbar on three occasions, with players regularly finding too much space inside the Basingstoke area.

The long wait for a first win of the season may be over, with Town having progressed in both the Hampshire Senior Cup and FA Cup during the last week, but they will need to improve defensively in order to get anything out of a tough-looking trip to high-flying Bath City in the National League South on Saturday.

Town named the same side that had drawn against Wealdstone a week earlier, with Flood leading the line on his own – and it took the striker just six minutes to put the hosts ahead.

Nathan Smart broke down the right and while his driven cross was kicked away by visiting goalkeeper Mark Scott, James Harper was able to lift the ball back into the area. Manny Williams headed it down for Flood, who had to negotiate his way around an offside-looking Smart before finishing neatly with the outside of his foot.

Slough were inches away from levelling soon after, Scott Harris' effort clipping the crossbar on its way over after Lewis Putman had done well down the left wing, while centre-back Gary MacDonald headed a corner into the side-netting.

The game entered a rare lull midway through the half, but that was brought to an end by Slough, who equalised with 29 minutes on the clock.

McAuley, who had a bad day all round, made two mistakes, giving the ball away in midfield to allow Slough an attack and then pulling back Jhai Dhillon in the area to concede a penalty, which was dispatched by Adam Martin.

Town almost found the perfect riposte, but Scott did well to block Flood's effort following an excellent pass from Harrison Gilkes, while the goalkeeper also did well to keep out another low effort from Smart.

The hosts could have had a penalty when Flood was taken out by the goalkeeper after heading Tom Bird's cross narrowly wide, while Louie Soares also went close with an attempted lob.

However, Slough were extremely close to grabbing the lead themselves from a corner right on the stroke of half-time, when MacDonald found himself totally unmarked eight yards out. Fortunately for Town, his looping header hit the crossbar, but there was still time for another scare, Harris putting in a volley that Aaron Howe had to save.

Having survived that, the hosts seemed to put the result beyond doubt in the early stages of the second half.

With 50 minutes on the clock, Bird won a free-kick, which he took quickly to release Soares down the left and his low centre was poked home by Flood despite the close attention of a Slough defender.

Three minutes later, Flood completed his hat-trick, rising above MacDonald to head home Bird's cross and give Town a bit of a cushion.

Slough hit the crossbar for a third time in the match just minutes later, Dhillon nodding against the frame of the goal from a free-kick given away by McAuley, who was booked.

Three minutes later and McAuley was on his way off the field, having picked up a second booking for a flailing arm as he competed for a high ball on halfway.

Flood had strong claims for a penalty waved away soon after, when he seemed to be pushed by Guy Hollis, while Slough huffed and puffed but struggled to break the hosts down.

Putman looked the most likely provider of a goal, but his angled drive went wide of Howe's near post.

Flood had a great chance to kill the game off on 74 minutes, when he was played in by Soares, but a heavy touch allowed Scott to make a decent save.

Town brought on extra defenders, ending the game with five at the back, but none of them were able to get close to Harris, who rose unmarked to head home Putman's cross with 11 minutes left.

Slough pressed, but Town held reasonably firm and looked dangerous on the break with the pace of Macklin.

The visitors had their big chance to level in the final minute, when the ball dropped to Martin on the penalty spot. Fortunately for Town, it was at an awkward height and he could only volley straight at Howe.

Basingstoke eventually put the game to bed in stoppage time, getting behind the defence and rolling the ball beyond Scott, who had advanced well out of his area, and into the empty net.

Click here to watch a post-match interview with Basingstoke Town manager Jason Bristow

PLAYER RATINGS

Aaron Howe - 7 (out of 10)
Only really forced into one sharp save. No chance with the goals, but saw the ball hit his crossbar on three occasions.

Nathan Smart - 5
Made a couple of good breaks into the opposition penalty area, but all over the place defensively. Unable to deal with Putman and eventually substituted after picking up a yellow card for a foul on the winger.

Tom Bird - 7
Solid defensively and a threat going forward. His crosses caused problems and set up the third goal.

James Harper - 6
Unable to prevent Slough players running at the Town back four.

Jay Gasson - 5
Looked uneasy throughout. His marking was particularly sloppy.

David Ray - 7
Still not hitting the heights of last season, but made a couple of excellent challenges and put in a solid display.

Louie Soares - 8
Had a good game on the wing, linking up play and creating the second goal.

Shaun McAuley - 4
A bit of a nightmare. Looks out of place as a holding midfielder and caused his own team problems. Badly at fault for the first Slough goal, conceding possession and giving away the penalty, before picking up two bookings in the space of three minutes.

Manny Williams - 7
Not as involved as he could have been but had a big hand in the opening goal of the game.

Chris Flood - 9 - Gazette Star Man
Outstanding. Took his goals really well, won more than his fair share in the air and hounded defenders for 90 minutes.

Harrison Gilkes - 7
Didn't have the same impact he did against Wealdstone and Farnborough, but posed problems.

SUBSTITUTES

Lloyd Macklin (for Gilkes 56min) - 8
A constant threat in behind as Slough pushed on late in the game. Really good finish to make the game safe.

Robbie Rice (for Williams 58min) - 6
Brought on to make Town more solid in midfield. Picked up a booking.

Will Salmon (for Smart 75min) - 6
Introduced as the hosts went to five at the back.

Subs (not used): Liam Enver-Marum, George Hallahan, Aaron Jarvis, David Smalley

Slough Town: Mark Scott, Sean Fraser, Jhai Dhillon, Guy Hollis, Gary MacDonald (sub James McClurg 75min), Adrian Sear (sub Ryan Hope 87min), Lewis Putman, Adam Martin, Scott Harris, Charlie Mpi, Warren Harris (sub Jake Parsons 64min)

Subs (not used): Stuart Lake, Luke Williams, Ben Edwards

Attendance: 357