ANDOVER Lions failed in their bid to reach the last 16 of the Hampshire Intermediate Cup when they agonisingly crashed out to Alton Town Reserves.

They were beaten 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out after a 0-0 draw at the athletics track.

Ray Cozze and Chris Paris welcomed back Sam Baxter, Danny Lewis and Steve Bregazzi after injuries had kept them out of recent matches.

Skipper John Robb was at the centre of defence after his on off transfer to Stockbridge fell through at the last minute after the Robins failed to complete the necessary paperwork in time.

Andover started very poorly and gave the ball away far too often to an Alton team that looked comfortable in possession.

Sibbick lobbed over on 15 minutes as the visitors tried to turn their superiority in possession into goals and Greeves had a chance well saved by Baxter.

It was not until the half hour that the Lions had their first effort on goal when Lewis hit a shot wide from a Hudson cross and Jeffery shot wide after a patient build up orchestrated by Lewis.

Ventham went close for Alton with an overhead kick and the game reached the break with both teams failing to break the deadlock.

The first chance of the second half fell to Greeves who shot over from Thompson’s cut back cross but Lions hit back with Hudson warming the hands of the visiting keeper with a rasping drive from 25 yards.

The penalty shoot out ended in upset for Lions when Nick Simms slotted home their fifth penalty to see Alton through.

Cozze was disappointed with the manner of their exit and the fact that they were out of a cup competition after they had not let in a goal in any of the previous rounds.

“It was good to get a few back after the injury problems we have had but we still missed Casson Spencer up front and we need to get him back as soon as possible to give us more potency up front,” he explained.

“We defended well and credit to John Robb for the way that he performed after a difficult week for him.

“The penalty shoot-out could have gone either way and Sam Baxter was really unlucky not to have got something on a couple of their efforts.

“We need to get some points on the board in the league now.”