Trojans’ bid to reach the Hampshire Hockey Cup final was derailed in a frantic penalty shoot out against Havant in the quarter-finals.
They drew 2-2 with the recently relegated NOW: Pensions Western Conference side in normal time, but lost 4-3 on penalties.
Trojans could have won in normal time and had the opportunities to improve on strikes by Colin French and Piers Everleigh, which wiped out an early Sam Broadhurst goal for Havant.
But they paid the penalty for making mistakes as Todd Freedman picked up a rebound off Steve Cole’s pads to snatch a Havant equaliser.
There was frantic goalmouth action at either end – Martin Gough firing wide with only Cole to beat and Trojans somehow scrambling the ball off after a goalmouth melee.
Colin French and Everleigh ought to have won it for Trojans after that, but they somehow bungled a chance after Havant had been caught on the break.
When it came to penalty strokes, Ian Bassett, Chris Gittens and Colin French kept their cool, but Everleigh saw his shot saved and James Sordillo sent his effort high.
Havant went on to beat Andover 6-1 in the semi-finals – the North Hampshire side previously beating Southampton 3-2, courtesy of a Jamie Hacker hat-trick. Tim Fewtrell and Will Richardson scored late goals for Southampton.
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