Report and pictures of Telford 2 Basingstoke 1

The Bucks looked on course for a comfortable evening against Basingstoke at the break, having taken a 2-0 first-half lead thanks to goals from Andy Parry and Tony Gray.

But they almost let their good work slip thanks to a Louis Soares strike and the dismissal of Bucks' midfielder Mike Grogan early into the second half.

Telford hung on, though, to bank a second-round tie away to League One leaders Bristol City.

Watson made five changes from the team that went down fighting at Barnet on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Jonathan Hedge, midfielders Grogan, Josh Hancock, striker Gray and skipper Steve Akrigg all came back into the starting line-up.

They replaced Freddy Hall, Karl Ledsham, (both cup-tied), Andy Todd, Adam Farrell and injured defender Neill Byrne (ankle).

Grogan shook off an ankle injury to make the starting line-up while Akrigg returned for the first time in six weeks having recovered from a hamstring injury.

Telford striker Sam Smith tested visiting goalkeeper Stuart Moore's reflexes with a close-range effort at the near post on 10 minutes.

Then Parry took advantage of some slack marking to nod the Bucks in front from the resulting corner-kick.

Smith then drew a strong save from Moore seven minutes later with a dipping 20-yard half volley, before Manny Williams' looping effort required a solid save from Hedge at the other end.

Akrigg saw a header blocked and Sean Cooke wasn't far away with a 30-yard effort before Gray made it 2-0 from six yards out, after Smith cut the ball back inside the box on 32 minutes.

Basingstoke gathered into a quick team huddle just before the start of the second-half, as they looked to rally.

But Higgins almost made it 3-0 with a rasping left-foot effort following a winding run. The shot took a deflection which took it just wide of the far post on 51 minutes.

Basingstoke made the most of that reprieve as Soares then halved the deficit a minute later from Chris Flood's cut-back.

The momentum really swung the other way four minutes later when Grogan, who had already been booked at the start of the half, was sent off for a second yellow card.

The normally-reliable midfielder was late with a tackle in the centre of the pitch and immediately knew his fate. Basingstoke were galvanised.

Hedge then needed to get down quickly to deny Jamie Brown's header from Tom Bird's testing left-wing cross. Watson needed to act.

With just under 30 minutes to go, he made two changes – Charlie Barnett and Andy Todd on for Cooke and Gray – and switched to 4-4-1 in a bid to negate the visitor's numerical advantage.

Still Basingstoke continued to make the running.

Soares was only inches away from a leveller from a 20-yard free-kick which went just over.

And only an very well-timed tackle by Akrigg prevented Flood getting a close range shot off with 13 minutes remaining.

But Telford held on as Basingstoke – who had Jamie Brown sent off for a second bookable offence on 90 minutes – ran out of steam.