YOUTH FOOTBALL

Cambridgeshire under 18s 3, Wiltshire under 18s 3 (AET) (Cambridgeshire won 5-4 on penalties)

MEL Gingell said he felt "devastated" after Wiltshire crashed out of the FA Youth County Cup on penalties for the second consecutive year.

Last year's beaten semi-finalists outplayed their hosts for long periods but it was Cambridge who held their nerve from the penalty spot.

Marlborough Town's Harry Etheridge missed the decisive kick in sudden death as Wiltshire's hopes of national glory faded for another year.

"We're just like England when it comes to penalties," said Gingell.

"For some reason it always seems to go against us. I was really, really disappointed because the lads played so well.

"Nobody ever seems to beat us in this competition, we only ever seem to beat ourselves."

Trailing 1-0 at the break, Gingell introduced Ben Thomson and the Melksham winger scored a brilliant goal to force the game into extra-time.

Biddestone striker Liam Brown put Wiltshire ahead only to see his effort cancelled out almost immediately.

Brown struck again in second half of extra time before Westbury's Aaron Billet missed a glorious chance to put the game beyond the hosts.

Cambridge equalised minutes from the end when Wiltshire stopper Charlie Heydon failed to collect a deep cross.

Westbury's David Thompson and Etheridge both failed in a tense shoot-out which saw Cambridgeshire progress to the next round.

"I really believe this team is good enough to win something this year," said Gingell. "The Army team could be in for a hiding if we create as many chances as we did on Saturday."

Wiltshire play The Army FA in the South West Counties Mick Parry Cup at the Conigre, Melksham, on Saturday November 4 (kick-off 2.30pm).