Despite a fantastic effort, Pitching In Southern Football League Premier Division South club Hayes & Yeading United bowed out of the Emirates FA Cup First Round on Sunday on penalties to League Two side Carlisle United.
With Premier Division Central side Banbury United losing on Saturday, themselves being victims of an upset after being ousted by Isthmian League North outfit Canvey Island, interest ends for the Southern League in the world`s most famous cup competition.
However, Paul Hughes` Hayes & Yeading side gave a tremendous performance in taking Carlisle all the way.
The home side were well in the tie in normal time, although the Cumbrian visitors did go close to breaking the deadlock in the first half when the impressive Joe Riley struck the bar with an effort from the edge of the area.
Carlisle`s Gavin Reilly had a shot hit the woodwork in the second half but there was always a threat on the break from the hosts, particularly through Francis Amartey and Omar Rowe.
But the 90 minutes couldn`t provide a goal. However, the extra 30 minutes was completely different.
If people watching on the often disappointingly interrupted broadcast on the BBC iPlayer were expecting Hayes & Yeading to fall apart in extra-time due to Carlisle`s superior fitness as a full-time side, they were amazed.
A minute before the end of the first period of overtime, Rowe went on a mazy run and, after playing a smart one-two with Amartey, fired the ball past Marcus Dewhurst in the visitors` goal.
Then, 3 minutes after the restart, sub Amos Nasha turned his man on the edge of the box and hammered the ball past Dewhurst to make it 2-0.
However, 2 minutes before the end of extra-time, Jon Mellish grabbed what was surely only a consolation for the Cumbrians.
But no, as in injury-time of extra-time, Mellish popped up with a sensational equaliser to force a penalty shoot-out.
The lottery of penalties brought Dewhurst to the fore as he made two crucial saves and when the home side`s skipper Liam McDevitt struck the post with his effort from 12 yards, Reilly duly beat home keeper Jack Smith with his effort to win the shoot-out 4-3.
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