ALRESFORD Town’s last hope of silverware disappeared last night in an extraordinary Sydenhams League Cup third round tie at Arlebury Park.

The Magpies raced into a 3-0 lead through Steve Hall, Sam Burt and Lukas McCartney only to fall victim of a jaw-dropping fightback by Sydenhams One underdogs Shaftesbury.

Having clawed back to 3-2 at the break through Lee Gale and Kent Kauppinen, Shaftesbury struck twice more through Gale and Dan Samson to lead 4-3.

Alresford hit straight back to 4-4 through Jack Wiffen and, with penalties looming, the visitors made a change of goalkeeper, due to injury, with regular No1 Dan Card taking over between the sticks.

And it was Card who emerged as Shaftesbury’s hero, making a brilliant one-handed save at 4-4.

That left the stage clear for Kauppinen to fire The Rockies into a quarter-final tie at Bashley, courtesy of a 5-4 shootout win.

Alresford, currently seventh in the Sydenhams Premier, host a FREE entry game against Hamworthy United on Saturday.