BASINGSTOKE Town progressed to the first round proper of the FA Trophy with a nervy victory over nine-man Whitehawk at The Soccer AM Stadium on Saturday.

Chris Flood’s first-half strike was the difference between the sides and Town looked set for a comfortable victory when Whitehawk lost both Gerardo Bruna and John Paul Kissock to second yellow cards after the break.

The visitors had to play the last 20 minutes with just nine men, but Basingstoke were unable to score a second goal to make the game safe, setting up a nerve-wracking finale.

Both sides hit the post in the closing stages, while Whitehawk had a great chance to level the game deep into injury-time, but Jake Robinson dragged his shot wide and Town held on to claim their first win in eight outings.

Basingstoke fielded the same 11 players who had lost 4-2 away at Hemel Hempstead Town last Saturday, though striker Lloyd Macklin was fit enough to return on the bench.

For Whitehawk, Sergio Torres returned to play in Basingstoke for the first time since he left Town nine years ago, but he was unable to have much of an impact on the game before being substituted 20 minutes from time.

The visitors had a couple of early opportunities, but Danny Mills and then Robinson were unable to direct headers on target. Robinson’s was a decent chance, but he could only nod Nick Arnold’s cross wide at the far post.

Manny Williams had Town’s first effort after being gifted possession on halfway, but his shot was a weak one straight at Whitehawk goalkeeper Craig Ross.

Generally, the sides cancelled each other out during the early stages. David Ray made a couple of good challenges and blocks to prevent the visitors from testing Stuart Moore, while Robinson fired narrowly wide from the edge of the area.

Home manager Jason Bristow changed things around, switching from 4-4-2 to a 4-2-3-1 system, an alteration that had a positive impact for the home side.

Good pressing resulted in Bruna fouling Williams to earn his first booking as Town managed to get on top, and they grabbed the lead on 39 minutes.

Shaun McAuley popped up on the right and his cross forced a mistake from centre-back Tom Cadmore, who was defending the near post but could only flick the ball into the middle of the goal, where Flood was on hand to sweep the ball in.

Whitehawk almost found an immediate response, Robinson smacking the ball against the post from the edge of the area less than a minute later.

Town almost grabbed a second as Williams played Louie Soares in, but he was denied by the legs of goalkeeper Ross, while Moore saved from Kissock as Whitehawk ended the half on top.

The hosts had the first chance of the second half, Soares seeing his shot from distance trundle just past the post, while a good break from McAuley gave Tom Bird the chance to break into the area, but he over-ran the ball.

Whitehawk looked to hit back, with Robinson forcing Moore into a save at his near post after linking up with Bruna down the left, but just as the visitors appeared to be getting on top, they found themselves reduced to 10 men.

Former Real Madrid and Liverpool youngster Bruna was the man sent-off, picking up a second booking for kicking the ball away after being penalised for a foul on Bird.

The game got a bit tetchy for a spell after this. A poor challenge from Smart sparked a melee and while the Town right-back did not go into the book, both Jamie Brown and Whitehawk’s Kissock were shown yellow cards.

Cadmore shot straight at Moore after being teed up by Torres, but McAuley missed a golden chance to double the lead on 65 minutes. Soares played him through but he made a total mess of the finish, miss-hitting his shot well wide.

Things got even worse for the visitors on 70 minutes, Kissock picking up his second booking for a needless foul deep in the Town half, and Town looked to make the most of their two-man advantage.

Ross made a good save to keep out Soares’ drive, Ray headed wide and McAuley blasted another good chance over the crossbar following good play from Brown and Jenkinson.

Having failed to take any of these chances, Town were nearly made to pay four minutes from time, substitute Sam Deering hitting the far post after cutting in from the left.

The game was very open in the closing stages. Moore had to dive in order to keep out a deflected Deering effort, while Town substitute Macklin smacked the post with a low shot from the edge of the area. Soares netted the rebound, only to be flagged offside.

The visitors created two more chances in five minutes of added time. Moore had to pull off another good save to keep out Deering’s effort from the edge of the area, but the big chance fell to Robinson with practically the final kick of the game.

With Town down to 10 men after Smart collided with the wall surrounding the pitch, Whitehawk managed to work the ball to Robinson. He was in behind the defence, but he dragged his shot went wide of the far post.

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

PLAYER RATINGS

Simon Moore – 8 (out of 10)

Kept a clean sheet and made several decent saves.

Nathan Smart – 7

Solid defensively and looked to get forward.

Tom Bird – 7

Unable to get into the game as much as he would have liked, but disciplined defensively.

Jamie Brown – 7

One of his best games for Town. Kept Sergio Torres quiet and much better in possession.

Jay Gasson – 7

Given a few problems by Jake Robinson but stood up to the task.

David Ray – 8 (Gazette Star Man)

Good response from the centre-back, who had a rare off-day at Hemel Hempstead but made several important challenges and blocks to help his side to a clean sheet.

James Harper – 7

A much-improved performance. Disciplined when out of possession and kept Town ticking over by keeping the ball.

Shaun McAuley – 7

Missed a couple of really good chances but impressed when given a free role. His cross set up the goal for Flood.

Louie Soares – 7

A threat with his pace and direct running but didn’t always pick the right option when in good positions.

Chris Flood – 7

A quiet game but he took the only chance that came his way very well.

Manny Williams – 7

Worked hard as Town looked to press from the front, nicking possession on several occasions.

SUBSTITUTES

Lloyd Macklin (for Flood 69min) – 7

Caused problems with his electric pace and rattled the post with a fine shot.

Andrew Jenkinson (for Harper 74min) – 7

Neat and tidy in possession. Kept things simple.

Robbie Rice (for Williams 88min) – 6

Gave Town an extra body in midfield during the closing stages.

Subs (not used): Case, Smalley.

Whitehawk: Ross, Arnold, Hills (sub Abdulla 10min), Ijaha, Sankofa (sub Guyonnet 76min), Cadmore, Kissock, Torres (sub Deering 69min), Robinson, Mills, Bruna. Subs (not used): Gargan, Makofo.

Attendance: 265