NEW Star Inn needed to draw on all of their fighting qualities to edge a titanic battle with Bishops Caundle in the first round of the Dorset Sunday Intermediate Cup.

It was a game that had everything – a sending off, 10 goals by the end of extra-time and a penalty shoot-out that went to sudden death.

Starting at the beginning, the hosts came flying out of the blocks and took the lead after five minutes despite the best efforts of stand-in Star keeper Lee Bur-rows.

Gradually the Portland-based outfit began to show what they could do and, with 25 minutes on the clock, Simon True levelled the scores.

The second half kicked off at the same pace as the first, but now it was Weymouth Sunday League side Star in the driving seat.

Antony Carlile despatched a free-kick from 20 yards to make it 2-1 and the same player slotted home soon after to extend the visitors’ advantage.

Star may have been guilty of dropping too deep as they looked to consolidate their lead and the hosts pulled a goal back when Burrows was beaten from distance.

That was the lift Bishops Caun-dle needed and they equalised from the penalty spot after Wayne Bowring received his marching orders for a foul in the Star box.

Not only did Star have to play with 10 men for the remaining 20 minutes, they then had to do so for the extra 30.

Their decision to go with three men in defence back-fired and the hosts went 4-3 in front.

Backed by a vocal band of travelling supporters, Star kept going and Carlile completed his hat-trick to level things up.

But that was far from the end of the drama as the home side scored again with 10 minutes left.

However, three minutes from time, that man Carlile saved his best until last, courtesy of a 25-yard cracker that flew into the top corner.

And just like the match, the penalty shoot-out that followed ebbed and flowed to a point where it looked like neither side wanted to win the tie.

Burrows saved two of Caundle’s first three penalties while the other was skied over the bar.

Despite this, Carlile was the only Star player to convert any of his side’s first three kicks – Stu Warden and Dan Campbell-Bell missed.

Caundle scored their next two and both Marcus Simpson and Rob Squibb squandered their chances to hit the winner.

Sudden death arrived and Burrows stepped up to the plate yet again. His third save gave True the chance to finish the job, and he did just that.

Meanwhile, four other Wey-mouth Sunday League teams went through to the second round of the cup.

Famous Old Spa beat Screen-fix 4-1, Market House overcame Parkstone 3-0, Sailors Return won 3-1 at Upton Sociedad and Moby Dick’s lost 2-0 to Team Gryphon.

Dolphin had a walkover against Skippers and Bakers Arms forfeited their game at AFC Wimborne.

Results: AFC Wimborne w/o Bakers Arms, Bishops Caundle 5 New Star 5 (aet – New Star won 3-2 on pens), Dolphin w/o Skippers, Famous Old Spa 4 Screenfix 1, Moby Dick’s 0 Team Gryphon 2, Parkstone 0 Market House 3, Upton Sociedad 1 Sailors Return 3.

Fixtures (Weymouth Sunday League): Bakers Arms v New Star (Dorchester Rec), Broadmayne v Sailors Return (Broadmayne Playing Field), Dolphin v Famous Old Spa (Redlands), Dorothy v Moby Dick’s (Redlands), Junction Trojans v Market House (Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre), The Alex v Weatherbury (Budmouth School).