Basingstoke Town bowed out of the FA cup by a single goal, but gave their League 1 opponents a run for their money, dominating the game for long periods on Saturday.
Manager Frank Gray was full of praise for his side, who battled for him right to the end, spurred on by tremendous vocal support from the 600 travelling fans.
Town started the game with two changes from the side defeated at Dorchester the previous week. Mid-fielder Wes Daly was suspended and Jide Ogunbote came in and David Pratt returned to the bench with Delano Sam-Yorke fit again.
The Dragons made a bright start, but the hosts forced the first corner of the game. ’Stoke felt they should have been awarded a corner, but from the resulting Richard Lee goal kick, Nathan Smart was adjudged to have brought down Sam Saunders.
Town ’keeper Ashley Bayes spent time assembling the wall, but could do nothing as the Brentford winger Saunders got up and fired his 25-yard free kick past the keeper’s outstretched hand.
’Stoke sides of old would have buckled at this stage, but not this team, and, as the game progressed, the visitors grew in strength with the home side holding on in the last 15 minutes.
Town responded and the Dragons’ man of the match, Stuart Lake, had a shooting opportunity, but elected to pass to Matt Warner and the move came to nothing.
Stuart Lake, who did not put a foot wrong all afternoon, made an important challenge to deny Toumani Diagouraga a clear goal scoring opportunity.
Jay Gasson and Rob Rice were immense at the back and McAuley and Ogunbote were a constant nuisance in between Brentford's defence and mid-field.
As half-time approached, Sam-Yorke made a run down the right, beating two opponents in the process before releasing a low shot that keeper Lee had to push into the side netting. This was to be his last action of the game as he succumbed to an ankle injury from a heavy challenge and cut a forlorn figure as he trudged from the field of play to be replaced by David Pratt.
This was a strong Brentford side that included Mike Grella, who had put four past Bournemouth in the week as the Bees thrashed the Dorset side 6-0.
Four minutes in, Lake was forced to make a good header to deny Bean a clear chance. From the resulting corner, Marcel Eger headed narrowly over.
Saunders looked to get in behind the Town defence and at the other end Ogunbote charged down a clearance that went straight to Lee in the Bees goal.
After the hour, Town came the closest they were to get to an equaliser. Warner's initial free-kick was cleared but Lake headed the ball back in towards Pratt. Lee missed the ball, but the Dragons striker was unable to get enough on his effort, which was cleared off the line by Leon Legge, who had just come on as a substitute for Miguel Llera.
With 12 minutes to go, Brentford replaced Grella and Rob Gradwell came on for Ogunbote.
By now it was all Basingstoke, and when they left the field it was to rapturous applause from all sides of the ground.
And Bees manager, Uwe Rosler, paid tribute to valiant ’Stoke after the game.
