BASINGSTOKE Town progressed to the first round proper of the FA Trophy with their fifth consecutive victory.

The hosts were comfortable after Shaun McAuley and Manny Williams scored goals either side of half-time, but they were given a first-half fright by their Ryman Premier opponents.

Town manager Jason Bristow was forced to make one change to the side that had started the previous week’s win over Maidenhead, Neil Barrett coming in for the suspended Matt Partridge in the centre of midfield.

The hosts had the first half-chance, David Ray heading wide from a tight angle, but the game got off to a slow start, with neither side really taking control.

Hampton and Richmond Borough were the first team to test the goalkeeper, Joe Turner’s turn and shot in the area forcing a decent save out of Louis Wells 13 minutes in.

Shaun McAuley then headed over from close range, jumping with the goalkeeper to meet a corner, while, at the other end, James Simmonds put a good chance into the side netting.

The deadlock was broken on the half-hour mark. Adam Green’s powerful strike from distance was heading for one side of the goal before a cruel deflection off defender Tommy Brewer sent it into the other corner, giving goalkeeper Rodney Chiweshe no chance.

However, the lead lasted just five minutes as Hampton became the first team to score against Basingstoke in just over seven hours of play.

The hosts failed to prevent Brewer crossing from the right and Dan Thompson, who impressed throughout, got across his marker to glance home at the near post.

The same player almost bagged a second goal soon after, as Hampton enjoyed their best spell of the match. He beat Nathan Smart on the left side of the area before firing the ball across the face of goal, inches wide of the far post.

The visitors were on top but Town scored against the run of play to lead at half-time.

It was a lovely goal, with Robbie Matthews heading the ball down for Manny Williams, whose first-time pass found McAuley in space. He fired a low shot beyond Chiweshe and the hosts were ahead once more.

Basingstoke were forced to make a half-time change as Simon Dunn came on for the injured Green, with Andrew Jenkinson filling in at left-back.

The game was sealed on 52 minutes. Dunn’s cross from the left was flicked on by Barrett and Williams got up to nod home from six yards.

Hampton’s Charlie Moone wasted a great chance to get his side back into the game as he and Thompson broke through. Jay Gasson was the only defender back but he did enough to block Moone’s attempted pass after the striker had dwelt on the ball.

Barrett went close for Town soon after, the ball hitting his standing foot as he attempted to turn Williams’ low cross home at the near post, while substitute Kezie Ibe was denied by Chiweshe.

Former Town midfielder Stuart Lake was afforded warm applause when he was substituted with 14 minutes to go. His replacement, Belal Aite-Ouakrim, almost forced Jenkinson to concede an own-goal, the Town man managing to lift the ball over as he made a crucial challenge to end a mazy run from the winger.

Basingstoke’s day was nearly capped with a fourth goal from another substitute, Jordace Holder-Spooner. Making his first appearance since the opening day of the season, the tricky forward was denied by a combination of goalkeeper and post in injury-time.

Bristow said: “In the first half we were not happy with a few things that were going on. I think we got over-run in midfield a little bit.

“We spoke to the lads at half-time, rectified a few things and, to their credit, they came out and dominated the game in the second half. We got a good early goal, which killed it off really, and we were able to see the game out, which we’ve done really well.”

Basingstoke Town: Wells, Smart, Green (sub Dunn 45min), Barrett, Gasson, Ray, Daly, McAuley (sub Holder-Spooner 77min), Matthews, Williams (sub Ibe 80min), Jenkinson. Subs (not used): Adams, Rice.

Hampton and Richmond Borough: Chiweshe, Brewer, Wells (sub Wanadio 67min), Lake (sub Aite-Ouakrim 76min), Powell, Roberts, Turner, Hickery, Thompson, Moone, Simmonds. Subs (not used): Mills, Pilgramm, Brewster.

Attendance: 403