Bourn hold nerve in shootout thriller

Bassingbourn 3

Steeple Morden 3

(Bassingbourn won 4-2 on penalties)

THE lottery of a penalty shootout separated rivals Bassingbourn and Steeple Morden - but it was the hosts who held their nerve in this Lower Junior Cup clash.

In a pulsating encounter, Steeple had to come from behind twice, as the hosts, who started the game with a 100 per cent record, raced into a two-goal lead after just five minutes.

However, as Charlie Prothero and Dom Holt got to grips with the Bassingbourn midfield, the visitors began to exert their own pressure, and created a number of chances, with Edey going closest with one powerful header.

And it was from a header that Steeple pulled a goal back when Roy Dunsford's corner was nodded home by Andy Smith after 38 minutes.

In the second half it was Steeple who started the brightest, with Ben Holt denied by the home keeper, before Prothero fired just wide from the edge of the box.

And with Darren Bown in impressive form at the back, it was Steeple who looked the more likely to progress.

And when they grabbed a deserved equaliser in the 84th minute, courtesy of a Ben Holt header, the game had definitely swung their way.

Disappointingly for the visitors though, Bassingbourn took the lead once more moments into extra time.

However, Dom Holt was on hand for another Steeple equaliser when he headed home Andy Smith's long throw to take the game to a penalty shootout.

Murphy and Dunsford converted their chances, but a faultless display by Bassingbourn left veteran keeper Tim Tidey with little chance, and as a result the hosts went through to the next round.

- Steeple return to league action on ­Saturday with a game against Foxton Reserves.

Steeple Morden: Tidey; Bown, McDonald, Smith, Collins (Bird); Murphy, D Holt, Prothero (Parr), Dunsford; Edey, B Holt.