Sutton United 1 : Basingstoke Town FC 2
Stuart Lake celebrated his 32nd birthday in fine style, firing home the winning goal for the Dragons.
With just five minutes remaining, and the game heading for a replay, the strike provided the hammer blow against home side Sutton United, with Town progressing into the first round of the FA Trophy.
Manager Frank Gray made two changes to the starting line-up on Saturday. Debuts were handed out to Angus McDonald on loan from Reading at centre-back, and Adam Mekki from Aldershot, taking up position on the right side of the Town attack.
The visitors had the first opportunity to score, with Mekki robbing Sutton left-back Chris Piper and home keeper Kevin Scriven doing well to save with his feet.
Just five minutes in, Town were a goal behind. The visitors failed to switch on at a free kick and former Eastleigh player Tony Taggart found the back of the net.
But three minutes later, Town equalised. A Wes Daly free kick was headed down by Tim Sills for Bradley Bubb, who fired home from close range for his second goal in three games.
After 20 minutes, the hosts were enjoying a good spell, but continuing to press without finding a finish. Craig Watkins did well, lifting the ball over Jay Gasson, but as he looked to round the Town defender he slipped at the vital moment.
After 30 minutes, Bubb found his way into referee Antony Coggins’ notebook for a challenge on Karim El-Salahi.
Just before half time, Town were forced into a change when Rice took a blow to his already broken nose and Matt Warner came on to replace him.
Warner was immediately involved in the game, clearing a goal-bound effort from the line following a corner. Assistant Referee Matthew Goldsmith flagged for a penalty, but after a conference between the man in the middle and his assistant referee, Coggins was awarded another corner.
Town had two great opportunities to take the lead before the break. Warner was again involved, with the ball falling to him and his superb cross was headed wide by Tim Sills. Bubb, who had been a constant thorn in the Sutton defence, had outpaced them, but delayed his shot, which was eventually blocked.
The second half was a slow affair with very few opportunities created.
Chances were at a premium, but Bubb chested down Daly’s pass for Sills with 25 minutes to go, but the Town striker dragged the low shot just wide of the post without troubling the keeper.
As the game progressed, the tension increased for both sets of fans, but the home side were looking to break the deadlock and a replay just five days ahead of their FA cup match with Notts County was not what they were looking for.
With 12 minutes left, they had the opportunity to break the deadlock as Chris Piper was given the time and space to shoot, but, fortunately for the Dragons, it was well wide of the target. Bubb had a similar chance at the other end, getting behind the home defence from a Gasson clearance, but he too was wasteful with his opportunity.
With the game set for a replay, both sides had made changes, with Town bringing on David Pratt for Bubb. The visitors won a throw-in deep into the Sutton half with only minutes to go.
The throw was left for Nathan Smart, who launched the ball into the box and it was flicked on to Pratt by Sills. Pratt had his back to goal and surrounded by home defenders, but he managed to find Lake on the edge of the area, who blasted home into the roof of the net, to the celebration of players and visiting fans.
The victory earns Town £4,000 prize-money and a first round trip to Didcot Town, who conquered Bromley 3-1 in the last round.
Town will now next be in action away to Sholing in the Hampshire Senior Cup next Wednesday.
