MELKSHAM Town player-manager Robbie Lardner admitted he had never felt so bad after a defeat after his team crashed out of the FA Vase at The Conigre on Saturday.

Twice ahead, Melksham's bid to win a place in the fourth round of the competition for the first time was ended when classy visitors St Neots scored six minutes from the end to claim a 3-2 victory.

"In all my career I've never been so disappointed about a defeat," said Lardner.

"Everyone was really down in the dumps at the end and it's going to be difficult now to lift the players for the rest of the season.

"I don't think we have a strong good enough squad to have gone on and win the Vase, but we were hoping to progress a little further.

"We gave away the goals with some sloppy defending which is most unlike us as we have defended very strongly recently."

Melksham could hardly have wished for a better start. From the kick-off they trapped St Neots in the left hand corner, forcing two throw-ins and then a free kick. Matty Bown fired the ball across the visitors' penalty area and St Neots captain Andy Chapman deflected the ball past his own goalkeeper.

Within five minutes the visitors were level, Vince Petty flicking on a long punt from defence and Simon Claridge firing a fierce shot past Melksham goalkeeper Darren Chitty.

Another cross by Bown led to Melksham taking the lead again in the 22nd minute. This time Lardner did well to head the ball back across goal from the far post for Dean Ranger to score.

Back came St Neots again and slack marking in the Melksham defence allowed Petty to equalise from close range.

In the second half Matty Messenger's long range shot hit a post and Bown's inswinging corner cannoned off the goal frame. St Neots grabbed the winner in the 84th minute when Petty fired home from the edge of the penalty area following a left wing attack.

Melksham are in cup action tomorrow when they entertain Wellington in the Les Phillips Cup.