A DISASTROUS own goal by Jamie Lyons sent Biddestone crashing out of the Les Phillips Cup on Wednesday night after a pulsating battle with Welton Rovers at Corsham Town's Southbank ground.

The unfortunate Lyons volleyed past goalkeeper Chris Snoddy in the first minute of extra-time after Luke Gullick had missed a penalty which would have booked a date with Willand Rovers in the last four of the competition.

Manager Graham Learmonth refused to lay the blame at Lyons' door, insisting his side had more than matched the team 32 places above them in the Toolstation League ladder.

He said: "I felt really sorry for Jamie. It was unfortunate but he was under no pressure whatsoever and the Welton striker could not have finished any better.

"All 14 of my players were immense tonight. Adam Taylor was superb up front. Colin Bush and Corsham Town must wonder what they are missing." Biddestone took the game to their Premier Division opponents in the opening stages and it was ex-Southbank star Taylor who created the first chance.

The 19-year-old striker skipped past two Welton defenders and pulled the ball back for forward partner Joe O'Chuko, who sliced his effort wide of the upright. Nigel Tripp marshalled the Biddestone back line with assurance in the absence of Ryan Trowbridge and neither goalkeeper was tested again before half-time.

The Yatton Road outfit began the second half in similar fashion to the first. When Taylor was upended in the box after 60 minutes Gullick had the chance to give his side the lead, but the winger saw his tame spot kick parried to safety.

Will Edwards let fly from 25 yards minutes later but his fierce strike was tipped round the post by the Welton stopper. Snoddy made a good save in the Biddestone goal in second half stoppage time as Rovers produced a rare counter attack.

Snoddy was called into action again in the first minute of extra-time when he tipped a speculative effort onto the crossbar. But with nobody around to trouble him, Lyons volleyed the rebound into the bottom corner of his own net.

Biddestone refused to lie down and Gullick placed a shot inches wide in stoppage time but the Somerset side held on for the win.

After the match a reflective Learmonth said: "It was a good exercise for us. If we can keep this side together we could be quite a handful next season.

"It would have been nice to have had a semi-final to look forward to, but now we must turn our attention back to the league."