CHIPPENHAM Park paid the penalty against Wessex League side Bemerton Heath Harlequins as they suffered a 3-2 shoot-out heartache following a 1-1 draw.

After a 90-minute stalemate, Bemerton looked to have won the game in extra time only for a late Darrin Moss free-kick to send the game to penalties.

However, Dave Ferris' men were unable to keep their cool on the spot and it was higher-league Harlequins who progressed.

Park boss Ferris said: "It was a close game and we acquitted ourselves very well. Playing a team from a higher level I always think makes you naturally raise your game and there was nothing in it.

"In the second half our keeper, Sam Thompson, made a few good saves and we had a few chances ourselves.

"They got a goal in the first period of extra time and if we’d lost 1-0 to a team from a higher league we couldn’t have been too disappointed but I just felt we had a bit more to offer and low and behold we managed to get an equaliser before the final whistle.

"We had five players who all immediately volunteered to take penalties but we ended up missing three and they missed two and that ultimately was decisive.

"We were disappointed to lose but with the chances they created and the chances we didn’t create I think they deserved to go through."

Park are back in Toolstation Division One action on Saturday when they travel to second-placed Hengrove Athletic.

Ferris added: "We are going to be up against it. By the sounds of things they have improved on what they had last year. They – along with Chard – are the team to beat."