Basingstoke Town 0 Braintree 2

HOPES of silverware in the FA Trophy came to an abrupt end on Tuesday night after an abject home display saw Town lose their replay with Braintree.

For the third season running, the Camrose Blues failed to get past their opening fixture in the competition. It now leaves the league cup as their only realistic chance of honours this campaign.

Both sides showed little imagination and an inability to pass the ball to one another in a dour first half.

An error by the normally-reliable Scott Tarr brought an opening to the scoring.

Having kept his side in it with two excellent stops from Braintree's Nicky Simpson in the 46th and 54th minutes, Tarr took a floating ball out for a corner, despite claiming it had already gone out.

From the resulting kick, Tommy Noble was allowed a free header, which Tarr, diving to his left, fumbled and pushed upwards.

A desperate hand clawed it back, but the linesman had no hesitation in flagging that the ball had crossed the line.

It then got even worse for Ernie Howe's side when a mix-up between Stuart Girdler and Scott Tarr in the 72nd minute allowed Robbie Rienelt to net.

Indecision meant Girdler let a long ball go over him and Tarr, also out of his goal, was then lobbed by Rienelt. The ball struck the foot of the post but the Braintree player was following in and fired home the rebound.

Town were given a lifeline in the 76th minute when substitute Jason Eaton was bundled over by Braintree 'keeper Paul Catley, resulting in a penalty.

Richard Newbery stepped up but his right-foot strike was beaten away by Catley diving to his left.

The spurned opportunity was the nearest Town came to getting themselves back into the match, despite some driving runs from Efan Elad, further efforts from Newbery and an Eaton header at the death.

Basingstoke Town: Scott Tarr, Chris Honor, Jimmy Fraser (sub Jason Eaton 64min), Jason Bristow, Efan Elad (sub Matt Elverson 80min), Mark Lisk, Toby Sumner, Stuart Girdler, Mike Davis (sub Nathan Wallace 90min), Tim Sills, Richard Newbery. Subs not used: Simon Arthur, Ashley Vine.

Braintree: Paul Catley, Terry Howard, Craig Davidson, Gavin Cowan, Andy Potter, Robbie Rienelt, Nicky Simpson (sub Paul Rippingale 90min), Dean Parratt, Tommy Noble, Nicky Smith, Mark Jones. Subs not used: Leon Gutzmore, Richard Blakery, Matthew Hayter, Simon Morden.