BASINGSTOKE Town put up a valiant effort, but their dreams of travelling to Bristol City in the second round of the FA Cup were dashed in Shropshire last night.

Hosts AFC Telford took advantage of some questionable defending to lead by two goals at the end of a first half that they probably just about edged, but the Dragons roared back after the break.

Great work from Chris Flood led to Louie Soares pulling a goal back early in the second half and when Telford had midfielder Mike Grogan sent off for a second yellow card just before the hour, the tie seemed to be turning Town’s way.

They piled on the pressure, but Lloyd Macklin and Flood were unable to make the most of their best opportunities and Telford held on, with Basingstoke losing midfielder Jamie Brown to a second yellow card in stoppage time.

Town boss Jason Bristow chose to shuffle his pack before the game, making three changes to the side that had lost to St Albans three days earlier.

Manny Williams returned from suspension in place of Lloyd Macklin in attack, while the more attacking Nathan Smart was preferred to Robbie Rice at right-back. In midfield, the fit-again James Harper came in for Shaun McAuley as the visitors switched from a midfield diamond to a more traditional 4-4-2 formation.

Town made a bright start, with Flood seeing an early header blocked and Simon Dunn seeing his shot deflected wide. A fine move resulted in Smart being played in down the right, but his pull-back didn’t find Williams, while Soares shot straight at Jonathan Hedge in the home goal.

Telford took the lead against the run of play after 11 minutes, Andy Parry rising unmarked in the centre of the six-yard box to power home a header from a corner, and the goal changed the feel of the game.

The hosts were able to get on top and while Williams’ deflected shot forced a decent save from Hedge, it was Telford who looked more dangerous.

Town ’keeper Stuart Moore tipped Sam Smith’s volley over the crossbar, while it took a goal-line clearance from Brown to keep the ball out when the young stopper punched the ball straight up into the air.

Another mistake from Moore gave Sean Cooke the chance to shoot from distance and while he fired wide, the hosts doubled their lead on 33 minutes. Smart and Dunn jumped for the same ball just outside the area and it dropped kindly for Josh Hancock, whose low centre gave Tony Gray the simple task of tapping in.

The rest of the half passed without incident and with Telford in control, using their extra man in the middle of the park well. Town’s wide men did find some space down the flanks, but crossing the ball into the area played into the hands of the hosts’ big centre-backs.

Telford nearly added a third goal early in the second half, but Ryan Higgins saw his shot deflected narrowly wide and Town got back into the game on 52 minutes.

Flood managed to control a long clearance and ran at the Telford defence, beating two men before squaring to give Soares a tap-in.

Five minutes later and the hosts found themselves down to 10 men, Grogan picking up a second yellow card in the space of 10 minutes for a foul on Flood.

Town had a chance to level just after the hour, Brown meeting Tom Bird’s cross but heading straight at Hedge, while Soares blasted a dangerous free-kick well over the crossbar.

Substitute Lloyd Macklin caused problems with his pace as the visitors continued to press, but he was unable to control a long ball forward when he could have been in.

However, a clever pass from Macklin gave Flood perhaps the best chance to level. It seemed to have opened up for a first-time shot, but the striker took a touch and was tackled.

With Town throwing more and more men forward, Telford began to threaten on the break, but Hancock and Godfrey Poku were unable to make the most of dangerous situations.

Smart had the final half-chance when the ball dropped to him on the right side of the area, but his effort was blocked as Town ran out of ideas.

Both teams ended the game with 10 men as Brown received his marching orders in injury-time. Having been booked in the first half, he picked up a second yellow card after catching Poku late on the halfway line.

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

PLAYER RATINGS

Stuart Moore – 6 (out of 10)

Probably the young goalkeeper’s toughest game so far. Not much chance with either goal but made a couple of weak punches and was almost made to pay for a terrible clearance kick.

Nathan Smart – 6 

Partly to blame for the second goal after a miscommunication with Dunn, but posed a lot of problems getting forward from right-back.

Tom Bird – 7

Solid defensively and put some good crosses into the Telford box.

Jamie Brown – 5

Worked hard in midfield, but he and Harper lost the battle. Will maybe feel he should have done better with his headed chance and having spent most of the second half shouting at the referee, it was little surprise when he was sent off for a rash challenge.

Jay Gasson – 7

A solid performance from the Town captain.

David Ray – 7

Made some important interceptions.

Simon Dunn – 7

Linked up well with Bird down the left, finding pockets of space.

James Harper – 6

Looked a little off the pace. He and Brown were over-run in midfield.

Louie Soares – 8

Scored the goal and posed a threat throughout with his pace and direct running from wide positions.

Chris Flood – 8 – Gazette Star Man

Worked as hard as ever and worried the home defence by running at them. Excellent play to set up the goal but will be ruing not getting his shot away first time as Town pressed for an equaliser.

Manny Williams – 7

A welcome return. Held up play and brought others into the game.

SUBSTITUTES

Lloyd Macklin (for Dunn 64min) – 7

Caused problems with his pace.

Shaun McAuley (for Williams 75min) – 7

Neat and tidy in possession during the closing stages.

Subs (not used): Rice, Jenkinson, Smalley, Owusu, Charlick.

AFC Telford United: Hedge, Higgins, McDonald, Akrigg, Parry, Cooke (sub Todd 62min), Grogan, Poku (sub Farrell 90+3), Hancock, Gray (sub Barnett 62min), Smith. Subs (not used): Pryce, Platt.

Attendance: 1006 (138 from Basingstoke)