After having their two match winning run ended with a 3-3 Southern League Midland Division draw away to Coventry Sporting three days earlier, United's hopes of winning the Southern League Cup were ended with this defeat away to Southern Division table toppers Basingstoke at the Camrose Ground.
The well organised Hampshire hosts took the lead in the 38th minute when Dean Pearce's inswinging corner to the edge of the six yard box found the unmarked Tommy Clegg who glanced his header past Ducks keeper Keith Baker.
It was 2-0 in the 44th minute when another corner from Pearce was only half cleared to Steve Frangoo who crossed high into the box. As the United defence charged out trying for offside, John Guyatt was left totally unmkared as Baker came out and missed and the ball looped off Guyatt towards Clegg who was left with an easy header.
The visitors pulled a goal back in the 56th minute when ?Stoke full back Tony Davies put through his own net under pressure from Cliff Hercules, but the hosts held on to reach the quarter finals for only the second time in their history and send Trevor Gould's side crashing out.
David Figg
