1-0 down, then 1-1 after 90 minutes. Won 3-2 on penalties! Get in!

If we play the way we did in the first half today against Yeovil on Tuesday we will be well beaten.  Our second half performance which  was a quantum step-up in terms of quality, suggests a really good game with the League leaders.  We bossed it for the first 10 minutes then barely reached the Basingstoke area for the rest of the half.  They were direct, hard-working and unsubtle and it worked.  Their goal was fortuitous but not against the run of play.  We just seemsed unbalanced and lacking any fire-power up front.  Cue the introduction of Fas and Spokes after half time and we suddenly looked a different team with pace and intent.  Basingstoke offered very little in the second half... except a slew of time-wasting tactics that cost them 6 or 7?? yellow cards. ( and Gary too I think for protesting against said tactics).  The late late equaliser was well deserved.  and the penalties well taken.  Credit to Basingstoke who had support in numbers and made their presence felt throughtout ( apart from the  obnoxious,  combative pair in the Stand near us who seemed to have forgotten the laws of reasonable decorum and how to behave as guests at another Club's ground... insulting all those around them).  That gave an added pleasure to the success of the shoot-out. Worrying to see Alex Bray depart, though.  Otherwise, we seemed to come through relatively unscathed.

Managed to get the win in the end but another mixed performance. First half we were at our very worst but with the half time changes much better in the second half.
Team selection bit baffling. At home in a cup match and you start with one striker. Really! And for most of the first half McClure was more in his own half trying to get the ball. Taking far too long to get the ball forward too much back and sideways passing. Why Owen-Evans started after been out for so long? Would have made more sense starting with Spokes and bringing Owen-Evans on in the second half. Good to see ref adding on sensible amount of time

First half poor and their early deflected goal helped their game plan of time wasting/defending - that isn’t sour grapes as I thought they did it well. Second half subs helped as did the formation change and we deserved the equaliser and arguably the win in normal time. To be as dominant as we were with 10 men was really good.

Don’t know the thinking behind line up but guess there has to be some squad rotation. Owen-Evans needs more minutes, that was clear. Injuries a concern but part of it.

Unbeaten in 5 and showed good character and commitment to the cause.