PAUL Hogan exited the Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships on Tuesday night - but not before giving defending champion Ray van Barneveld a scare.

Basingstoke player Hogan, 40, showed no sign of nerves against the tournament favourite and a determined approach to the match saw him take the first set 3-2 with a double-18 finish.

Despite throwing three 180s in that set, Barneveld didn't really look comfortable until he levelled the match by taking the second set 3-1.

Relief was tangible on his face and it freed his arm, aided by the cheers of wife Silvia and the 'Orange Army' of supporters from Holland.

The Dutch maestro sub-sequently broke Hogan's throw and took the next set 3-1 to go 2-1 ahead.

Battling Hogan's superb 125 finish of bullseye, 25 and bullseye saw him break Barneveld's throw for the first time and take a 1-0 lead in the fourth set.

Barneveld secured the next two legs before Hogan hit back with a double-8 to tie.

However, left with 76 in the deciding leg, treble-20 and double-8 yielded Barneveld a solid 3-1 win and a quarter-final clash against John Walton.

Acknowledging he was always up against it, Hogan told The Gazette afterwards: "I'm just happy that I played well and glad I didn't disgrace myself. I pushed him all the way.

"I was up for it, but just didn't score enough 180s like Ray. I kept getting tons and 140s and that was the difference.

"I felt relaxed and did my best, but it wasn't quite enough."

Barneveld refused to shake his opponent's hand before the match. "Perhaps that's just his way of preparing, but it fired me up," said Hogan.

Afterwards, however, triple champion Barneveld was full of praise. He said: "There are no easy matches and you can never relax against a top-20 player like Paul.

"It was hard to concentrate on the match and Paul Hogan because everyone expected me to win and was talking about the quarter-finals.

"I am happy I am through to the longer set matches because you can relax a bit more. If you're 3-0 down you can come back and win 5-3."

Hogan's wife Angela and 12-year-old son Darryl were tearful afterwards but proud of efforts which earned him £4,250.

The Midlander, originally from Dudley but who now lives in Buckskin, secured his tie against Barneveld with a 3-0 whitewash of Bob Taylor last Saturday in the first match of the championships.

Hogan, in his fourth Championship, promised: "I will definitely be back. It's the best feeling when you stand on that stage with the crowd behind you."