Basingstoke Town 0, Ashford Town 0 (aet Ashford won 3-2 on pens)

WOEFUL finishing throughout the 120 minutes and three awful missed penalties ensured Town's exit from the Bryco Cup.

But it never should have happened. Town were the stronger, fitter and better side. Indeed, they created more chances in this game at the Camrose than they have all season.

Yet they took profligacy to a new level and paid for missing numerous opportunities with their poor spot-kick exit.

Ashford goalkeeper Paul Burgess was outstanding and made some superb stops as his defence rode their luck. But Craig McAllister, who hit the bar early on, and substitute Oliver Burgess, who missed an open-goal header from just five yards out in the 106th minute, should have grabbed a brace each before the penalties. Then they missed twice more.

Lack of confidence is clearly affecting McAllister, while Neville Roach is retreating to the wings too often to cross the ball to be able to make the most of his strike partner's head-downs and link play.

Chance after chance came and went, to the frustrations of the team and the Camrose fans, as Town's incisive passing and movement failed to yield the goal it deserved.

Throughout extra time, Town continued to dominate, utilising the width, as was their game plan. But it was to no avail and there was an air of inevitability when it came down to penalties.

The shoot-out sequence was:-

Ashford started and Steve Willmore sent Scott Tarr the wrong way to score in the right hand side (0-1).

Oliver Burgess steps up but namesake Paul Burgess saves the shot, diving to his right (0-1).

Richard Butler repeats his colleague's first penalty to score (0-2).

Neville Roach sends Burgess the wrong way to firmly score by hitting into the bottom left corner (1-2).

Vinnie O'Sullivan's kick is saved by Tarr, diving low to his left and Town are back in it (1-2).

Ben Surey hits one powerfully and that power takes it through Burgess' grasp after his full-length dive to his left took him within finger-tips of keeping it out (2-2).

Central defender Steve Croxford blasts the ball high into the conifers behind the goal (2-2).

Craig McAllister's body language looks all wrong and he drags an awful kick left and wide (2-2).

Russell Canderton restores Ashford's lead by hitting it hard and low into the bottom left corner (2-3).

Scott Tarr steps up but his placed effort is saved by Burgess, diving to his left (2-3).

Town boss Ernie Howe was at Kings Lynn, watching his side's opponents ahead of the third round FA Trophy tie in Norfolk next Saturday.

Assistant manager Pete Peters took control but suffered his first defeat in charge of the Blues. He said afterwards: "I feel as if I should be ranting and raving, but am numb.

"It's just so frustrating that we keep missing chances and haven't scored at home again. If we'd have got one we'd have got half a dozen.

"Oliver's missed header was a catastrophic one, and it's disgraceful to miss three penalties.

"It's an unbelievable result after the possession and chances we had. There were some good performances out there but it's difficult to praise people when you lose."

Basingstoke Town: Scott Tarr, David Ray, Neville Stamp (Nathan Stamp 45mins), Ben Surey, Steve Hemmings, Ricky Allaway, Ian Dickens (Oliver Burgess 67mins), Alex Ewin, Craig McAllister, Neville Roach, Rob Kember. Not used: John Dyer, Jason Bristow, Dan Weait.

Attendance: 187.