Lymington and New Milton 3, Basingstoke Town 3 (after extra time, Lymington won 4-3 on pens)

LOWER-league opposition have knocked Basingstoke Town out of every cup competition this season.

On Tuesday, Lymington and New Milton incredibly joined Bracknell Town (FA Cup), Ashford Town (Bryco Cup) and King's Lynn (FA Trophy) in putting one over Ernie Howe's side.

Town spurned a position of dominance to crash out of the county cup at the quarter-final stage for the second consecutive season.

To the chagrin of the Camrose club's management, officials and fans at a freezing Fawcett's Field on Tuesday night, Town threw away a two-goal lead - twice.

They led 2-0 at half-time with a Craig McAllister brace and then 3-1 midway through the second half, after Ricky Allaway restored the cushion.

The bare bones of an incredible game were:-

Three goals conceded in 10 minutes as Lymington overran the Town midfield and the de-fence started to panic.

The referee choosing not to send off Lymington goalkeeper Alan Walker-Harris - already on a yellow card - for a professional foul in hauling down Neville Roach in the area in the first minute of extra-time.

Walker-Harris then saving McAllister's spot-kick, diving to his left.

The referee sending off Rob Kember for picking up his second booking with a late tackle.

Nathan Stamp blasting against the bar to miss Town's third penalty in the shoot-out.

Walker-Harris scoring a penalty and then saving another McAllister spot-kick, diving to his right to seal Town's exit.

The result was made worse when it emerged Aldershot had been defeated by Eastleigh.

There was an air of inevitability when it came down to penalties, with memories of the spot-kick loss to Ashford three weeks ago still fresh.

The penalty sequence was:-

Ian Dickens gives Town the lead with a cool finish to the right - 1-0.

Paul Towler scores with a powerful low kick in the left corner past Scott Tarr - 1-1.

Toby Sumner sends the 'keeper the wrong way to score low and left - 2-1.

Lymington sub Darren Curtis places the ball to his right and nets - 2-2.

Stamp doesn't look assured and puts his kick against the bar - 2-2.

Paddy James hits a good penalty into the right side past Tarr - 3-2.

Neville Roach fires home in a similar way to his team-mate Sumner - 3-3.

Walker-Harris smacks one into the roof of the net - 4-3.

McAllister goes back to the side where he scored his first penalty but Walker-Harris guesses correctly to save and it's all over - 4-3.

Speaking afterwards, Town manager Ernie Howe knew his side shouldn't have lost, yet it was a match that encapsulated all aspects of Town's season.

As soon as one part of their game is right, as the defence has been, goals dry up. It was the other way round on Tuesday.

Inconsistent refereeing really cost Town in this tie.

Referee James Lynnington's decision not to send off Walker-Harris was crucial to the proceedings. He shouldn't have been on the pitch to become Lymington's hero.

A gutted Howe said: "We shouldn't have given away a two-goal lead twice, but the referee's interpretation of laws of the game were comical.

"The incidents in the penalty area weren't the only ones he missed in not dealing with their 'keeper, who even tried to start a fight with Steve Hemmings after a 50-50 ball Steve had every right to go for!

"You cannot legislate for such decisions, but they end up costing you. It's very frustrating and concerning."

Basingstoke Town: Scott Tarr, Rob Kember (sent off 118min), Nathan Stamp, David Ray, Jason Bristow (sub Steve Hemmings 72min), Ricky Allaway, Barry Elmore (sub Neville Roach 79min), Toby Sumner, Craig McAllister, John Dyer, Oliver Burgess (sub Ian Dickens 103min). Not used: Michael Watkins, Dan Weait.