Gosport Borough 1, Basingstoke Town 0 HAVING decided to give his FA Cup heroes "a deserved night off," Francis Vines saw his Town side surrender their nine-match unbeaten run to go out of the Hampshire Senior Cup at Privett Park on Tuesday.

Playing just one survivor - left-back Robbie Watkins - from Saturday's starting line-up at Chesterfield, Town boss Vines wanted to rest his first-team aces ahead of the vital Conference South basement battle against Hayes on Saturday, November 18.

He gave some of his squad players a game to see if they could stake a claim for a senior place. But the boot was on the other foot as Wessex League underdogs Gosport, who thrashed Hanworthy 6-0 at the weekend, were clearly keen to take a scalp.

Only a top reflex save from goalkeeper Ashlee Jones prevented Neil Scammell in the second minute, as Town failed to deal with full-back David Birmingham's corner.

Former Basingstoke striker Stuart Findlay beat the offside trap to try a lob from 25 yards that dipped just too late, much to Jones' relief.

Gosport's pace and movement caused Town issues and their goal led a charmed life.

Michael Cooper saw his looping header headed off the line and Scammell's scissor-kick from the rebound stung the palms of Jones.

Basingstoke's only opening of the first 45 minutes fell to debutant Luke Townsend, who blazed high and wide from the corner of the box after chesting down a well-weighted cross-field pass by Justyn McKay.

Town got going after the interval and twice went close in the opening minutes of the second half.

Townsend's corner was flicked on at the near post by Simieon Howell, but flashed across the face of goal and beyond the reach of Neville Roach at the far post.

Striker Roach then timed his run to perfection to spring Gosport's offside trap to get on to Francis Quarm's through-ball, but, having clipped the ball past the advancing 'keeper Mark Brown, could only find the side-netting.

Gosport went ahead on 52 minutes when unchallenged defender Michael White ghosted in to head home Birmingham's cross, with the ball taking a slight deflection en route.

There was controversy on 61 minutes when Quarm was clearly upended inside the area by Adam Camfield, but the referee awarded a free-kick outside the area. The resulting set-piece was driven harmlessly wide by Townsend.

Vines' double striker substitution, introducing James Taylor and Joe Harris, failed to spark much of a recovery until too late in the game.

Taylor's neat control and volley stretched Brown from the edge of the box, while Justyn McKay went within inches of equalising with a low drive from 23 yards.

Gosport remained a threat from set-pieces, thanks to Birmingham's dangerous deliveries, and Findlay's header from one such dead ball flew just wide.

Town, last season's beaten county cup finalists, had one last chance to force extra-time, but midfielder Quarm blazed over from 12 yards, giving Gosport a third-round meeting with neighbours Havant and Waterlooville.

Basingstoke Town: Ashlee Jones, Adam Aimable (sub Mark Vockins 62min), Robbie Watkins, Jason Bristow, Danny Brown, Justyn McKay, Simieon Howell, Francis Quarm, Neville Roach (sub James Taylor 66min), Ben Wright (sub Joe Harris 66 mins), Luke Townsend. Subs (not used): Warner, Fejzullahu.