A 
luckless Basingstoke travelled home from Kent empty handed after a 3-1 defeat to Ebbsfleet on Saturday.
The Dragons’ injury crisis reached a new nadir ahead of the tie as with no goalkeeper available manager Frank Gray was forced to bring in 19-year-old Mirko Ranieri on loan from Tottenham.
Disaster then struck in the warm up. Already missing Ross Adams, Callum Reynolds limped off with a knee injury to be replaced in the starting line up by Jahson Downes.
Rob Rice slotted in at centre back and Nathan Smart to right back while strikers Delano Sam-Yorke and Greg Draper were only fit for the bench.
The visitors got off to the worst possible start, going a goal down after four minutes.
With Town in attack the assistant referee flagged for offside tand a quick free kick saw the ball played forward, Smart failing to track Michael West who calmly slotted past Ranieri.
But Town were not fazed by the early set back and played their way back into contention.
Stuart Lake missed a great opportunity from a corner and Matt Warner drove narrowly wide of the post after being played in by David Pratt.
'Fleet responded with Ashley Carew, a constant thorn in the Dragons’ side, playing a neat move with Tom Phipp, Ranieri spilled the shot and Jay Gasson was able to scramble clear.
The visitors had chances to level, a Matt Warner free kick and a missed header from Pratt's cross going close.
Town’s problems worsened at half time as Finlay picked up a foot injury and was replaced by former Hartley Wintney winger Josh Miller, with Warner dropping to left back.
Despite this the Dragons drew level on 54 minutes. Pratt was brought down in the penalty box and Rice confidently slotted home from the spot.
Sixty seconds later Downes had a great chance to put Basingstoke in the lead but blasted over following a good move from Matt Pattison.
The injury problems worsened on the hour as Rice was forced to leave the field and Stuart Lake moved back to the centre of defence.
But with the visitors still adjusting to the rejigged formation, the defence failed to clear a bal into the box and Ranieri was judged to have brought down Gareth Williams. Carew converted the resulting penalty decision to make it 2-1.
Gray introduced Sam-Yorke for Downes but the now four-man midfield was dominated by the home side and with 10 minutes to go the hosts sealed the three points.
Ranieri, who had done little wrong all afternoon, made a fine save from Williams but Callum Willock was on hand to smash home the rebound.
Town had made the home side fight all the way and still had chances in the closing minutes of the game with Pratt heading across the face of goal, a strike from Sam-Yorke and Frankie Raymond who had a good game firing just wide.
Town must now pick themselves up for a tough trip to leaders Braintree Town.
