Basement’s strength shone through, says Whtehead boss Clarke

Speaking after the match, Eagles manager Raymond Clarke told the Times: “I thought we played well. We had a few missing but we were never out of the game - even at 3-1. Basement’s strength came through. They are a good, strong team.”

Basement opened the scoring on 14 minutes with Peter Sergent scoring from the spot after he had been impeded by keeper Ryan Morrell.

On 25 minutes right-back Kevin Stewart tracked back to nod Neil Graham’s lofted effort off the line.

Whitehead who levelled matters on 38 minutes when Alan Clarke steadied himself to slot home David Lorimer’s right-wing cross.

Basement nosed back in from just a minute from the break; Mark Arthur doing the needful after David Moore had got round the back of the Eagles defence.

After the break Andy Johnstone diverted a Chris Gall free-kick away from the lurking Ally McMillan, while a Clarke’s header was cleared off the line. Eagles also had a strong shout for a penalty, but the referee was unimpressed.

Instead, it was Basement who had the last word, sealing their place in the next round when Graham found the net six minutes from time.

Tomorrow the Eagles welcome second-bottom Drumbo.

Whitehead: Morrell – Stewart, Evans, Gall, Adrain – J Lorimer, Moran (McWilliams), Clarke, A McMillan – D Lorimer, Welsh (Kennedy).