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.
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