BROCKENHURST’S heroic FA Cup run finally came to an end this afternoon when beaten 5-1 at home by National League South outfit Wealdstone in the third qualifying round.

 Although the Stones were worthy winners, the extreme scoreline did not reflect the efforts of the Sydenhams Premier underdogs who went in 1-1 at half-time and conceded twice in stoppage time at the end of the game.

There was a special Cup atmosphere at Grigg Lane with Saints’ 1976 hero Jim Steele introduced to the teams before kick-off.

The visitors contained two familiar names in their line-up with experienced striker Jefferson Louis starting up front and fellow ex-Eastleigh man Dale Binns named on the bench.

Brock made a positive start against their three leagues higher opponents and it was a pity Matt Casey’s finish didn’t match the promise of a sweet fourth-minute move involving skipper Mark Barker and Scott Joyce.

Dual-signed Eastleigh defender Jack Smith had an uncomfortable moment when he dallied in possession and was quickly closed down.

The ball rebounded to Matt Ball whose shot dribbled wide of the far post.

The Badgers were competing for everything and comfortably dealt with their visitors until a soft goal undid them in the unlucky 13th minute.

Brock should have dealt with Ball’s cross from the left but it was LOUIS, back to goal, who reached it and the ball looped off his head and tamely into the net.

As expected, Louis’s physical presence offered a constant threat for Wealdstone and, having used his strength to lay the ball back for Matt Lowe to fire over, he then headed Scott Lucien’s cross against the top of the far upright.

Brock forced a couple of corners before visiting keeper Jon North had to get down smartly to gather Barker’s cross from the right.

But when Wealdstone went up through the gears they looked awesome and, with Louis winning virtually everything in the air, they went close again when skipper Wes Parker fizzed a shot across the goal-face.

Barker then delivered another dangerous ball in for Brock, this time from the left, and Joyce was unlucky when his flicked finish didn’t quite come off.

Louis’s strength was a sight to behold and when he turned and thundered a 35th minute shot at goal, Badgers’ keeper Callum Maher miraculously turned it away.

It would have been easy for Brockenhurst to buckle, instead of which they sent the home fans into raptures with a 41st-minute equaliser.

Busy bee Casey laid the ball off to crowd favourite BARKER just outside the right of the area and the skipper curled a left-foot beauty into the far top corner with the aid of a deflection.

Half-time: Brockenhurst 1 Wealdstone 1

Wealdstone came out firing for the second-half and reclaimed the lead on 52 minutes when Brock only half dealt with a free-kick by Lucien and the ball fell for defender Tom HAMBLIN to thump into the roof of the net.

Brock, though, refused to lie down and the visitors had a lucky escape on 65 minutes when, following tireless chasing from Ryan Long and Barker, Joyce had a header cleared off the line.

But on 72 minutes the visitors made it 3-1 when, in trying to deal with Lucien’s low ball in from the right, Jude NWACHUKWU succeeded only in finding his own net.

Nwachukwu’s afternoon then threatened to get worse when he was adjudged to have brought down Lowe in the area.

Louis took the penalty, but the magnificent Maher flung himself to his left to keep it out.

Brock substitute Kabba Jack then had two good chances set up by Barker before the Foresters were dealt a couple of ill-deserved blows in stoppage time.

First Wealdstone’s Scott DAVIES beat Maher with an audacious effort from inside his own half and then Jonny WRIGHT banged in the visitors’ fifth after the ball had rebounded into his path in the congested area.

In between, inspirational Brock skipper Barker had one scraped off the line by keeper North and hit another onto the top netting.