Chippenham Park 3 Whitchurch Utd 2 aet.

Whitchurch embraced competitive Sunday football possibly for the first time in their history and did not find it to their liking, going down in extra-time to a Chippenham Park side whose performance belied their league status and placing.

So while their league record remains intact they have now gone out of both FA competitions and a chance for further progress in the Vase was lost.

United gave a full debut to Cole Hinchcliffe in the heart of their defence and found themselves under early pressure despite kicking down the slope.

Brad Snelling was at full length to deny Josh Ferguson, Mark Robinson fired across the face of goal and when the defence failed to deal with a through ball Phil Baker’s shot came back off the post.

Home keeper Lewis Porter denied Danny Phillips twice but with the home side constantly trying to release the pacy Robinson the visitors were too often on the back foot until they took the lead after 27 minutes with a goal of some good fortune.

The build up play between Jack McCarthy and Jamie Mansell on the left was neat and the latter’s cross low and hard, but with no red shirt in sight the ball was turned into the net by a home defender.

Snelling saved again from Robinson but when the striker fastened on to a through ball and let fly again, the ball looped off Mitch Fear’s outstretched boot and over the stranded keeper to bring the scores level and the equalling out of the good fortune.

United’s response was instant with Philips setting up Jack Garner but the shot came back off, and nearly broke, the post before they were rewarded with a second goal as the half moved into stoppage time.

The home defence failed to clear a corner and when McCarthy swung the ball in Ryan Lambert at the far post headed back over Porter and into the net.

The ever dangerous Robinson glanced a header wide before, perhaps against the run of play, he brought the scores level with a quarter of the hour remaining.

Ferguson’s split the defence and the striker shot across Snelling and low into the corner. The 90 minutes finished with no further goals and the game moved into extra-time.

The home side went in front for the first time after the referee allowed a good advantage on the left and Robinson’s cross was steered past Snelling by Ferguson.

Porter rescued his side with a fine save from a header by one of his own defenders and Pearson, now operating up front, saw two shots blocked in a scramble in the six yard box and a Mansell cross found no takers in the area but the breakthrough would not come and Park went through.

This brought to an end Whitchurch’s long unbeaten run but after struggling, though winning, against Horndean and then this reverse, manager Carl Bennett now has to get them back on track with Newport, Petersfield and Winchester next up in the league.