Bridgwater Town Reserves’ hopes of a third consecutive “double double” ended in controversial fashion yesterday.

Bridgwater, who have won the Somerset County League Premier Division title and the League Knock-out Cup for the past two seasons, crashed out of the cup in the cruellest of fashions at Stockwood Green.

A week earlier, Bridgwater had been denied a first win in six when Stockwood scored a 95th minute equaliser in their league encounter at Fairfax Park.

Fast forward seven days, and a similar scenario played out, as Stockwood scored the winner on their home ground with virtually the last kick of the game.

Bridgwater were poor in the first half, but took the lead against the run of play on 35 minutes, when Tyne Govier broke down the right and crossed for Dean Organ, whose powerful header was pushed away by the keeper, only for Steve Hall to tap in the rebound.

Bridgwater spurned a great chance to make it two on the stroke of half-time and came out for the second half all guns blazing.

However, five minutes into the second period, the hosts drew level, prompting Bridgwater manager Jason Bale to introduce Lewis Irish up front, in place of Adam Kinsey.

Bridgwater regained the lead on the hour mark, when Irish’s corner was headed in by Warren Ryan, for his first goal for the reserves.

The game’s turning point came with 20 minutes left, when the referee harshly dismissed Bridgwater’s Paul Goss for two soft bookings. Stockwood equalised with five minutes left and snatched the win in contentious fashion.

The referee awarded Bridgwater a free-kick, only to reverse his decision. With the visitors’ defence caught unawares, Stockwood took the set-piece quickly and found a striker, who converted easily.

Ten seconds after the re-start, the full-time whistle blew.

Afterwards, Bale told the Mercury: “We were really annoyed with the referee’s performance.

"It’s particularly disappointing to lose as holders of the cup, but we have shown massive improvement on four or five weeks ago.

“We’ve got a much more settled squad now.”

Bale said he was looking to bring in a couple of new faces by the time Ashton and Backwell United arrive at Fairfax Park for Tuesday’s league clash.