PORTLAND UNITED 0

LYMINGTON TOWN 2

PORTLAND United were knocked out of the FA Cup in the extra-preliminary round as Lymington Town claimed a 2-0 victory at the Camp & Satherley Stadium.

Portland were level with their opponents, who play one division above them, until the 65th minute when two goals in the space of eight minutes from Karol Skoczen and Freddie Bullard settled the tie.

There was also a bizarre end to the game for the Blues as captain Ryan McKechnie played the final 15 minutes in goal after an injury to keeper Mike Edgar.

McKechnie was involved at the attacking end as early as the second minute, seeing a deflected shot cruelly spinning wide of the upright.

READ MORE: Portland United 1-2 Bournemouth Poppies - match report

Blues' co-boss Franklyn Clarke forced Linnets' keeper Amadeusz Skrzyniarz into an excellent save and Liam Sayers fired over – all within the first seven minutes.

Joel Hewitt had a goal ruled out for offside before Clarke and Sayers both failed to find the target as Portland did everything but score.

Edgar was called upon to make a superb stop early in the second half and moments after Portland saw another goal scrubbed out for offside, Lymington broke as scored through Skoczen.

Bullard then confirmed Lymington's place in the next round with a composed finish but Portland did not go quietly, Marcus Smith seeing the best of three late chances going to waste.

Portland did at least pocket £375 from the clash and co-boss Sam Poole aired mixed feelings after the defeat.

He told Echosport: "The performance was good, to be fair. The result doesn't show that.

"We controlled the game, we had a lot more possession, a lot more opportunities on goal.

"We created a lot of chances and we weren't clinical in taking any of them. The two goals we conceded we are disappointed with, essentially two individual errors which have cost us.

"It's a difficult one because if we put the ball in the back of the net we'd be coming away with a different result.

"It was nice to see things we have been working on in training come into practice. Going forward we were very good, so we were pleased."

On falling at the first hurdle, Poole said: "Every team wants to have a good run in the FA Cup, it can be really special.

"We're disappointed we haven't had a cup run. We went out at the same stage last year.

"We knew the tie wasn't going to be easy but when it got switched to our venue, it was a good opportunity for us.

"Even after their two goals we were still dominating, we missed a couple of sitters. It's probably a cliche but we could've been out there for a lot longer and not scored."

Blues: Edgar (Walbridge 76), Thomas, Stuttle, Toland, Poole, Williams, McKechnie, F Clarke, Sayers, Hewitt (Morris 72), M Smith. Subs not used: Diaz, Harvey, Wilson.

Attendance: 110