Whitchurch United 2 Romsey Town 1.

A breakaway Isaac Sedu goal two minutes from time brought three much needed points for Whitchurch United on Tuesday from a game they tried hard to throw away but in the end came away from victorious.

The 2-1 scoreline does not begin to tell the story as the Jam Boys missed two first half penalties and a host of other chances after taking an early lead through Luke Walker but went in at thebreak level with a Romsey side who must be wondering how they ended the evening with nothing.

With boss Jim Macey ill, assistant John Routledge was in charge and said after the game: “I think we deserved the points in the end. We should have been five up at the break but I was very disappointed at the way we approached the penalties.

“The team worked really hard and Pa Touray ran all night in the middle alongside Alex Dockree.”

United got off to a good start as Walker and Lee Hamilton both went close and it was no surprise when Hamilton rescued a stray ball near the goal line and pulled it back for Walker to side foot in from eight yards in the ninth minute.

Sedu then set up Walker who shot wide and with Romsey reeling at the back Sedu was shoved as he bore down on goal but Walker blasted the spot-kick straight at Brad Snelling who saved well.

Within five minutes the referee was again pointing to the spot after Walker was brought down but Dockree’s poor kick hit a post and was cleared.

Romsey sensed a lifeline and the busy Dan Phillips tested home keeper Tom Hindmarsh before Walker again wasted a one on one chance.

On the half hour Jordan Sako nodded a free header wide for Romsey but the reprieve was short lived as Phillips got in behind the home defence and beat Hindmarsh to level.

Whitchurch were forced into a change at the break as Adam Pearson limped out of the game and after Sedu, Walker and James Tennant went close Romsey took over and always looked most likely to score.

Substitute Elliot Richards’ 25-yard drive brought a sharp save from Hindmarsh and Jack McCarthy’s shot was deflected agonisingly wide before the same player brought another superb save from Hindmarsh.

Whitchurch substitute Curtis Angell and Sedu had shots saved until with five minutes left Sako was left in acres of space but blazed over from ten yards which proved to be the game changer.

With 89 minutes on the clock Dockree launched a long pass into the path of the nippy Sedu and he outpaced the defence and shot under Snelling and the points were Whitchurch’s.

A relieved Routledge added: “We just kept going and I think we were the better side.

“It was the first time we have played the game at a fast pace and it paid off.”

Whitchurch go to Western League Premier Division side Hallen on Saturday for their FA Cup extra-preliminary round tie and are due to visit Horndean on Tuesday for a Wessex League Premier Division match, which is subject to any replays for either club.