BRAVE Hanworth Villa's amazing FA Cup run came to an end in a dramatic fourth qualifying round defeat at AFC Totton on Saturday.
The record breaking run had seen Villa, in their first ever season in the competition, progress further than any other Combined Counties team ever had before.
But having already played seven games to dispose of Shrivenham, Bedfont Sports (over two games), Wembley, Aveley and Slough Town (over two games), Southern Premier leaders Totton proved to be one giant-killing too far for the Villains.
The first chance fell to the home side, Michael Charles seeing his shot from point blank range deflected wide, before a mistake by Ian Richardson almost let in Lawrie Shennan (pictured) at the other end.
Villa keeper Terry Buss then saved well from a Ryan Hill free-kick, before Shennan fired just off target from the edge of the area after pouncing on a Jamie Whisken error, and headed wide from a Steve Loveridge cross.
A brilliant challenge from Lee Higgs stopped Jonathon Davies getting clear in on goal for the hosts, while at the other end, Hill got to a Loveridge cross just ahead of Shennan, and Shaun Preddie fired narrowly wide from 25 yards out.
But a dramatic last three minutes of the first half saw as many goals, Villa falling behind, levelling a minute later, only to go behind once more on the stroke of half time.
Davies opened the scoring on 42 minutes, slipping past a couple of challenges on the right hand side of the Villa area before finishing superbly from a tight angle.
Two minutes later, Villa were level when Levi King latched onto a Shennan ball forward which was not cleared, but their celebrations were cut short when a minute later, Nathan Campbell netted at the far post following Nathan Sherborne's cross from the left.
The second half was far quieter by comparison, Adam Baigent's effort from a Loveridge corner saved, and Buss making a great save from Davies after Baigent lost possession.
The game looked to be over 10 minutes from time, Sherborne playing the whistle to seemingly beat the offside trap and score a dubious third for the hosts.
Baigent and Sherborne had chances for either side in the closing stages, before in injury time, Villa sub Duane Antonio pounced on a defensive error to pull one back.
Villa threw everything into their search for an equaliser in the time left, but their hosts had enough experience to keep the ball in the corner at the other end, the frustrations leading to a red card for Ricky Farnden for kicking out.
But even that our note could not leave a blemish on what has been an historic and memorable cup run for the Hanworth side, who bowed to applause from all four sides of the grounds afterwards.
