Didcot Tn 0

Basingstoke Tn 1

(McAuley 69)

Didcot Town’s run in the FA Carlsberg Trophy ended with a narrow defeat by Basingstoke Town in the first round at the npower Loop Meadow Stadium on Saturday.

As with the FA Cup adventure last season, the Railwaymen’s progress to this stage set a club record only for Basingstoke to knock them out. However, Didcot offered much more resistance than the four-goal thrashing they took from the Blue Square Bet South club last season.

The first chance fell to Basingstoke striker Bradley Bubb, whose effort was blocked by keeper Dean Santangelo.

Shaun McAuley had a deflected shot skim wide for Basingstoke, before Didcot’s Lee Henderson headed Kevin Halliday’s free-kick over the bar.

Basingstoke then began to dominate, and Angus MacDonald headed a good chance straight at Santangelo.

The visitors also had decent claims for a penalty waved away as Halliday seemed to illegally impede Bubb.

Santangelo saved well from McAuley, Bubb and Adam Mekki after the break.

But Didcot eventually cracked in the 65th minute when McAuley raced on to an excellent through ball from Nathan Smart, before firing over Santangelo from a tight angle with his shot cannoning in off the underside of the bar.

McAuley forced another good save from the impressive Santangelo, before Didcot’s Danny Seaward shot wide.

Didcot’s cause was not helped with the late dismissal of Henderson for a reckless late tackle on Mekki, which sparked a melee.

But the Railwaymen almost snatched a last-gasp equaliser when Joss Millar drilled a shot just wide.

Didcot Tn: Santangelo, Elkins, Halliday, Henderson, Peirson, Howell (Turner 90), Bayley (Bangura 83), Mudge, Asombang, Seaward, Davis (Millar 79). Subs not used: Beames, Stanley.

Attendance: 260.