Truro City suffered the pain of a penalty shootout defeat, as AFC Totton won 5-3 on spot kicks at the TCS to book their place in the FA Cup first round proper, writes Tom Howe.

Just three days on from a 1-1 draw at the Snows Stadium, the two sides could once again not be separated as Lirak Hasani scored on the hour to cancel out Tony Lee’s first half opener.

Chance after chance came and went for a City side that lacked the cutting edge needed on the night to get past a Stags side that played more than 75 minutes with ten men, following Joe Oastler’s dismissal for two bookable offences.

With nothing to choose between the sides after 90 minutes on Saturday and 120 minutes under the lights, the tie was ultimately decided on spot kicks. Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain’s miss handed the advantage to the visitors, who go on to play Macclesfield Town in round one.

Tinners boss John Askey was forced into two changes on the back of Saturday’s run out, with Ryan Law, due to the imminent birth of his second child, and Sam Sanders, who failed a late fitness test, replaced by Shaun Donnellan and Yassine En-Neyah.

The two teams, entwined together in history as a result of the famous 2007 FA Vase final at Wembley Stadium, traded chances in the early part of the game but it was Truro who forced the first save.

Dominic Johnson-Fisher tested Ryan Gosney in the seventh minute, forcing a stop from the inspired Stags’ custodian, who stayed down after a collision with Connor Riley-Lowe but was ultimately able to continue.

City’s intensity had the home crowd on their feet, none more so than when Zac Bell won possession high up the pitch and sparked a move that ended with Johnson-Fisher’s effort being deflected wide for a corner. From the set piece, Oxlade-Chamberlain saw a header cleared off the line by a visiting defender.

It was a cruel twist of fate then that, in the very next move, Totton found themselves in front. Against the run of play, Lee capitalised on some hesitation at the back to sneak in and put the ball past Dan Lavercombe.

Luke Jephcott and Bell each came close for a Tinners side desperate to get back on level terms. Johnson-Fisher proved as tricky to deal with as always and it was he that was involved in the game’s next major talking point.

In additional time at the end of the first half, the fleet-footed forward threatened to burst away with the kind of pace we’ve been accustomed to in weeks gone by. Noticing the danger was an already booked Oastler, who pulled him back and earned an early bath.

The Tinners returned for the second stanza with a man advantage and with Saturday’s hero, Tylor Love-Holmes, in their ranks, brought on for the yellow carded Dan Rooney.

Normal service resumed as Johnson-Fisher was soon denied by a brilliant one-handed save, while Jephcott had a shot blocked moments later and Hasani struck wide as Askey’s charges ramped up the pressure another notch.

It finally told when Will Dean stung the gloves of Gosney and won a corner, which was subsequently turned home by Hasani for what was his first competitive goal in our colours and a potential catalyst for things to come.

What followed was a period of intense City attacks yet, try as they might, the Stags’ staunch rearguard action defended like the Alamo to extend the evening’s entertainment for a further half hour.

Gosney again deserves plaudits for his remarkable performance, across both ties, to keep out a Tinners side hellbent on putting the contest to bed – something they just weren’t able to do as Totton just about dealt with everything thrown their way.

Harry Kite and Max Kinsey were introduced off the bench alongside the returning Rekeil Pyke. who spurned the final opportunity of the 120 plus minutes, when a cross from Bournemouth loanee Kinsey wormed its way onto his boot. From close range and with little time to react, Pyke failed to take the chance.

That resulted in the game needing to be decided via a shootout. Totton, who struck first, held a 3-2 lead when Oxlade-Chamberlain stepped up and missed, conceding an advantage that the Stags upheld, with Tyler Cordner staying cool to compete a 5-3 triumph.

Match Facts

Tinners: Lavercombe, Bell (Kinsey, 115), Riley-Lowe, Dean, En-Neyah (Kite, 89), Rooney (Love-Holmes, 45), Johnson-Fisher (Pyke, 105), Oxlade-Chamberlain, Hasani, Jephcott, Donnellan. Subs not used: Stone, Sanogo, Marsh. 

AFC Totton: Gosney, Oastler, Clarke (Emmanuel-Thomas, 62), Hodson, Rendell, Lee (Dolling, 117), Rose, Batzelis, Bennett (Vigrass, 80), Cordner, Tanner. Subs not used: Evans, Haunstrup, Carter, Jackson.

Referee: Stephen Parkinson

Attendance: 1026