A Sam Saunders free kick helped Brentford do just enough to see off Basingstoke in the first round of the FA Cup at Griffin Park on Saturday.

Saunders added to his personal highlight reel with another superbly executed free kick from 25 yards out after just nine minutes and despite creating a number of other chances, failed to add to their lead during a second half in which Basingstoke could count themselves unlucky not to equalise.

Afterwards a relieved Bees' boss Uwe Rosler said: “All credit to Basingstoke, they made their fans proud, especially in the second half. They had a lot of dangerous situations. We would have liked to play better. But I accept the difficulties of the first round and am very happy with the outcome of this week.”

After taking the early lead Brentford came close again when a quick break saw them move the ball from right to left before Blair Adams fired over the bar.

Midway through the half some trickery from Niall McGinn saw him cut into the box and fire a low ball across the six yard box, which was just missed by the Bees' strikers.

Basingstoke began to threaten and Delano Sam-Yorke's shot was pushed behind into the side-netting by Richard Lee.

Lee was again called into action five minutes before the break when he saved Tim Sills's low shot from the edge of the box.

The first half ended on a sour note for Brentford when skipper Kevin O'Connor was stretchered off with a suspected ankle injury.

Early in the second half Mike Grella latched onto a through ball, but his weak shot was easily taken by Ashley Byes.

Basingstoke really got into the game during the second half and Matt Warner was unlucky to see Marcel Eger get in a last ditch block after he broke down the left.

After a Basingstoke corner on the right the ball pinged around the penalty box and substitute Leon Legge got back to hook David Pratt's effort off the line.

The visitors' best chance came when Pratt broke down the right and was only denied by a superb block with his legs by Lee.

Still their chances came and Sills headed wide at the back post from a corner before Shaun McCauley saw his weak shot held by Lee as the Bees clung on to progress to the second round.

Brentford: Lee, Logan, Llera (sub Legge 64), Eger, Adams; Saunders, O'Connor (sub Bean h/t), Diagouraga, McGinn; Grella (sub Donaldson 78), Alexander

Subs: Devlin, Woodman, Weston, Oyeleke

Attendance: 3553

Man of the Match: Richard Lee

Goals: Saunders 9