Lymington & New Milton and Newport IoW experienced the highs and lows of FA Cup football last night.

While Ian Robinson's Linnets celebrated a 2-1 preliminary round replay victory at Sittingbourne, the Islanders crashed out on penalties after conceding a controversial equaliser at Walton Casuals.

Wessex outfit Lymington fell behind on 13 minutes when Dave Cory pounced on a mix-up between goalkeeper Mark Watson and defender Darren Curtis. But they levelled on 37 minutes when Darren Crook hooked in Mark Clothier's (pictured above) cross from the right and were handed a gift-wrapped winner early in the second half when a defender volleyed in Ben Thomson's quickly-taken free kick.

Robinson, who now leads the Linnets to Molesey on Saturday week, said: "It was a bit of a stuttering performance. The wind was blowing a gale and made it a real battle, but everyone's proud and delighted to have won."

Newport not only missed out on £1,000 prize money, but they may well pay the price for taking the referee to task about Walton's equaliser in a tie that finished 1-1 after extra time and 5-2 to the Casuals on penalties.

Ashley Wright had given the Islanders an early lead, bundling home substitute Steve Bonser's hooked shot, but midway through the second half Newport's Jamie White was elbowed in the face and his worried teammates kicked the ball into touch before gathering round him. Only Chris Bridges was on hand when Walton caught them unawares from the throw-in, but the striker succeeded only in hitting his own net. Misses by Wright and Boo Fletcher cost Port dear in the shoot-out.

Linington said: "What happened with their goal was wrong, but the referee wouldn't accept it."