BASINGSTOKE Town suffered the headache of losing after a penalty shoot-out in their FA Trophy tie with visiting Torquay United.

The Dragons roared into the lead after Sam Smart was brought down by Shaun MacDonald in the penalty area and Dean Stow made no mistake from the spot from the eighth minute.

Torquay were level two minutes later. Saikou Janneh’s low ball found Jamie Reid and he fired into the bottom corner.

After this the home side looked the better side and Smart, Jack McKnight, and Sam Argent all had chances Goalkeeper Shaun MacDonald pulled off a fantastic save to keep the scores level just before the half-time break, as a powerful free-kick from Stow was sent over the bar from an acrobatic save to his right.

The introduction of Opi Edwards at half-time helped the visitors and Basingstoke goalkeeper Colm McAdden produced two great saves to deny Brett Williams and Jamie Reid.

Town had the better of extra time as sub Mitchel Parker and Wright both went close, but with no goals the game went to penalties In the shoot-out United's scored from Jamie Reid, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Liam Davis and Brett Williams.

Town scored their first three from Ben Wright, Jack McKnight and Dean Stow, before Parker put his penalty over the bar. Jake Andrews held his nerve to send Torquay through into the first round proper.

This evening they face Hartley Wintney at home in the league.