Joshua Barnes had fired the home side ahead in the second half at Greenwich Avenue after Basford had caught the Seasiders out on the counter-attack.

But as Nathan Haslam's side looked defeated, top scorer Gratton popped up to a drill a low free-kick beyond Kieran Preston in the host's goal deep into second half stoppage time.

Whitby were quick out of the traps in Nottinghamshire. Bradley Fewster miscued a curling strike and the could also have put the visitors ahead once again when he chipped the ball wide of Preston's goal after a neat ball over the top from Lewis Hawkins.

It was then Basford's turn to threaten. With 28 minutes gone, the lively Barnes went for the spectacular and his finish carried plenty of power, but flew just wide of the post.

Whitby piled some pressure on towards the end of the half, with Junior Mondal testing Preston after Fewster had forced a defensive error, but on the whole Basford's defensive discipline was helping them go into the half-time break on level terms.

After a few warning signs, James Jepson's side came out a different side after the restart. Jordan Hallam went for goal but was foiled by Shane Bland, before Whitby had a chance of their own as the ball was slipped through to Gratton, however he could only find the side netting from a difficult angle.

Just before the hour mark, though, and with Basford having found their feet, the hosts moved in front. Hallam and his fast feet contributed heavily to Barnes' goal; the number ten's darting run took him onto the edge of the Whitby box and his ball across goal to Barnes allowed the winger a sight of goal which he really couldn't miss as he tapped in at the back post.

With 15 minutes to go, Connor Simpson - who had come off the substitutes' bench to add a more focal point in attack for the Seasiders - found himself in space on the edge of the area but with both sides of the goal to aim at, he struck into the hands of Preston.

Fewster then used his instincts to fire towards goal with an effort on turn, but once again the Basford 'keeper prevented him from levelling the clash.

Tyler Dacres went even closer to scoring next, albeit for the home side, as he blasted a shot wide before Remaye Campbell also could have scored, only for Bland to make an acrobatic catch meaning that Whitby still had a chance of coming home with something to show for their efforts.

And in the third minute of stoppage time, Whitby were awarded a free-kick right on the edge of the Basford box. Both Gratton and Priestley Griffiths showed interest, but it was the former who went for goal and he found it with a low, drilled strike that Preston was unable to keep a watch of as the ball travelled through a sea of bodies to break Basford hearts.