Les Phillips Cup semi-final

Bridgwater Town 1, Shepton Mallet 1 (Shepton Mallet win 4-3 on penalties)

BRIDGWATER Town suffered penalty heartache in their Les Phillips Cup semi-final against Shepton Mallet, going out on spot-kicks having already missed from 12 yards during extra-time.

The sides couldn't be separated after a fiercely competitive 120 minutes, with a goal in each half of normal time setting up the shootout, and visiting goalkeeper Tom Easterbrook was in inspired form throughout to ensure Shepton booked a place in next Monday's final.

The first scare for Town came on 13 minutes when James Billing's back-post header found the corner of the net, only for the referee to blow up for a foul by the centre-half.

Bridgwater came back strongly at their visitors, with Jack Taylor's fierce effort from an angle saved before Dave Pearse saw a goalbound half volley blocked en route to the bottom corner.

Town's player-manager came close again midway through the half as his looping volley was tipped over by a backpedalling Easterbrook and Bridgy then had a goal disallowed in identical circumstances to their visitors, with Aaron Harper-Penman adjudged to have fouled his marker as he headed home Jack Jenkins' corner.

Chances continued to come for both sides - Taylor heading over Town's best opportunity after a fine cross by Llewellyn - and the hosts received a blow shortly before the break when centre-half Mark Armstrong pulled his hamstring and was replaced by the returning Ben Palmer.

Shepton Mallet took advantage of the defensive re-shuffle to open the scoring on the stroke of half-time in slightly fortuitous circumstances, as Palmer's clearance cannoned off striker Joe Morgan and nestled in the bottom corner.

The Robins changed their shape at half-time, moving Harry Horton into a midfield three and pushing Jake Llewellyn further forward down the wing, but chances were at a premium in the early stages of the second period.

Palmer picked up a booking for a lunge which sparked the game into life, with Mike Duffy and Conrad Peck booked for their role in the handbags that followed, and substitute Syd Camper nearly had an instant impact when his cross found Taylor, who volleyed over.

Bridgy's talismanic number nine was not to be denied moments later, turning home a corner from close range after a goalmouth scramble to level it up with 20 minutes to play.

From then on the hosts were dominant and piled on the pressure in search of a winner.

Easterbrook kept out a Taylor snapshot before the striker turned provider, digging out a cross from the right which Camper struck over from eight yards.

Town hearts were in mouths four minutes from time when Shepton bundled the ball in at the far post from a free-kick, but the sight of an offside flag brought sights of relief around Fairfax Park.

That was the last action of the 90 minutes and the hosts looked the more likely in extra-time, with Easterbrook continuing to rescue his side.

The goalkeeper kept out a goalbound header from his own defender before he looked to have blotted his copybook when he brought down Taylor inside the area on 105 minutes.

He more than atoned for his error, however, saving Syd Camper's tame effort to his right as a glorious opportunity went begging for Town.

Shepton's number one then thwarted Taylor with six minutes to play, keeping out a powerful volley in the last meaningful chance before the full-time whistle.

Having kept out a penalty just 15 minutes earlier, Shepton perhaps had a psychological advantage going into the shootout which showed early on, as Town missed their first two - Mike Duffy firing too close to Easterbrook before Jack Jenkins launched his effort into the car park.

The visitors scored their first two but Town were briefly back in contention as Jake Llewellyn and Jack Taylor converted either side of Tyson Pollard blazing over.

Cameron Sanford made it 4-2 before, to Camper's credit, he stepped up under pressure despite his earlier miss to smash his effort into the top corner.

Captain James Billing held his nerve for Shepton, however, converting into the bottom corner to seal a 4-3 win on penalties and set up a meeting with Buckland Athletic, who beat Street 1-0 in the other semi-final, at Longwell Green Sports FC next Monday.

Town can consider themselves unfortunate after a spirited display, but now look to end their league season on a high as they head to Chipping Sodbury Town on Saturday.

Bridgwater Town: Jake Viney, Dave Thorne, Kurt Robinson (c), Mike Duffy, Mark Armstrong (Ben Palmer 38), Aaron Harper-Penman, Harry Horton (Syd Camper 59), Jack Jenkins, Jack Taylor, Dave Pearse (Steve Holland 109), Jake Llewellyn.

Subs not used: Charlie White, Harry Hamblin