Lymington Town’s FA Cup fairytale is over, but despite an eventual 7-0 mauling from Torquay United, they exited the competition with heads held high - and a handy £10,000 in the bank !

The BBC television cameras rolled into a rain soaked town Sports Ground hoping to capture a cup shock in front of 639 paying customers.

But once the Gulls broke Lymington’s dogged resistance with two goals in a telling three-minute spell leading up to half-time, the outcome was never in doubt.

By the end, goalkeeper Nic Jones stood between Lymington and a double-figure defeat by the South Devon visitors, who were playing in the Football League only four years ago.

Despite the goalkeeper’s saves and some gallant defending, Torquay turned round 2-0 up and went on to score five more in the second half, with former Eastleigh striker Brett Williams coming off the bench to bag a brace.

“It was obviously difficult circumstances playing a full-time team – they were very quick, very slick and as the game wore on they were unpicking us in different areas all over the pitch,” reflected Lymington boss Dave Lewis.

“We more than contained them up until the first goal and, but for a great save by their keeper from Mike Gosney at 0-0, we might even have sneaked the lead.

“It was getting to a critical point in the game when they scored twice – how ironic it was that an own goal put them in front – to settle them down.

“That was what the game hinged on from our point of view, but once they scored there was only one team in it.

“We created a couple of dangerous moments before then through Sam House and Gosney, but then we were up against it.”

A weeks or so ago a giant killing might have been a possibility as Torquay, having been relegated to National League South, sacked Gary Owers, their sixth manager in three years.

But the appointment of the vastly experienced Gary Johnson, late of Peterborough United, Northampton Town and Bristol City, changed all that.

In the days leading up to the Lymington cup tie, Johnson went back to Ashton Gate and brought in four loan players, among them 19-year old Opi Edwards.

Alongside the influential Jake Andrews, the Ghana-born midfielder led the Wessex League side a merry dance all afternoon.

Lymington’s gallant defending, none more so than goalkeeper Jones, kept Torquay at bay until nine minutes before half-time when the hapless Lewis Brailey headed into his own goal – the Gulls making it two soon after with an excellent build up finished by Jamie Reid.

Jones made a catalogue of saves before Ruairi Keating made it 3-0 and George Regis pounced to make it four.

Williams came off the substitute’s bench to score the fifth and sixth Torquay goals before Andrews capped his man-of-the-match award with the seventh.

Lymington had been well and truly beaten, but it was nonetheless a proud day for the local Step 5 club who went up against a household name from three divisions above them on the pyramid.

“Hopefully we’ve put the club in good light and retain some of the support we’ve enjoyed in the cup run,” manager Dave Lewis concluded.

Lymington Town: Jones, Davies, Stephenson, Ansell, Brailey (Willett 45), Man (King 88), Hannen, Tate (Ross 57), Gosney, Jarvis, House.