Bury got off to a great start. A long throw on the left from Stuart Walker in the first minute, Kitteridge failed to hold and Sam Reed accepted the offer heading into the empty net. Kitteridge complained that he had been pushed in the build up but found himself in the notebook of referee Rathbone who like the Town shotstopper will have better days. The visitors looked shell shocked and spurred on by the vocal home support Bury took control of the game. Helped by the wind advantage the hosts pushed on a free kick in the fifth minute that the Dragons struggled to clear and another quick throw from just inside the Stoke half by Lee Smith nearly put Liam Barrett in for a second. Stoke unable to string any passes together were reduced to long clearances against the wind out of defence and were often at full stretch.

As the half progressed Basingstoke began to get back into the game and a ten minute spell saw them draw level. A free kick on 25 minutes was struck by Matt Warner, the cup hero from two years ago, driven at pace and took a deflection and past Bury keeper Marcus Garnham into the top of the net. The home crowd was silenced and the visitors back in the game and in control for the first time. But it was short lived. A half shot by captain Tom Bullard on 32 minutes slipped through the hands of Kitteridge and he desperately tried to redeem the situation but the ball had crossed the line. Stoke responded with a great ball from Tom Hateley to Warner whose cross from the left was met by Sido Jombarti but Bury managed to clear for a corner. The visitors were in more trouble just before half time, having failed to clear their lines Sam Reed found himself with time and blasted a 25 yard shot past Kitteridge’s outstretched right hand leaving him no chance. On the stroke of half time Lee Smith seemed to go down in the box after a coming together with Rob Watkins, the home fans screaming for a penalty but it was Smith who earned a yellow card for diving. Half Time: Bury Town 3 Basingstoke Town 1

Town had a mountain to climb in the second half. After an appeal for a home penalty turned down in the first minute the Dragons pressed with the wind advantage. Mitchell Bryant headed agonisingly wide from a Warner cross in the 50th minute. Just eight minutes later the end was to be in sight for the Camrose side. Kitteridge’s miserable afternoon ended with the bringing down of Liam Barrett as he rushed out of goal to try and clear the ball. He gained his second yellow and was dismissed but the officials decided that the incident had occurred inside the area. Town were forced to re-shuffle and Adam Aimable was sacrificed to bring on substitute keeper Chris Waller. His first involvement was to collect Lee smith’s penalty from the back of the net. On the hour the dangerous Sam reed turned and shot and his effort grazed the outside of the post. In an effort to get back into the game Town withdrew Tom Williamson for David Tarpey. But it was Bury who looked most likely to score, Sam Reed again striking the crossbar from the edge of the box. Warner had not given up hope and a dangerous cross in was met by the home keeper. At the other end Waller was forced into a good save with his feet from Lee Reed. Barrett fed Lee Reed but he was unable to get a shot away as the visitors scrambled the ball away. Phil Ruggles received a long ball and was fouled and won a free kick. Hateley took from nearly 30 yards and drove the ball wide. Joe Dolan was introduced for Rob Watkins and Ruggles forced a good block by Garnham in the Bury goal. Bryant’s follow up was crashed against the wall of Bury defenders. Late in the game Bury made all three substitutions and near the final whistle Jason Bristow was sent off leaving the 1121 spectators bemused as to the reasoning behind this. There was still time for man of the match Sam Reed to hit the woodwork for a third time and substitute Steve Bugg to shoot wide when clean through. Bury were convincingly through to the first round proper for only their second time and now face a trip to Alfreton.

Basingstoke Town : Ross Kitteridge, Adam Aimable (Chris Waller), Rob Watkins (Joe Dolan), Jerome Maledon, Jason Bristow, Tom Hateley, Sido Jombarti, Tom Williamson, Phil Ruggles, Mitchell Bryant (David Tarpey), Matt Warner. Subs not used:  Jide Ogunbote, Carl Gibbs, Sean Hankin, Ian Jones

Stoke must now re-group for an important league game at home on Saturday against Newport County.