HOOK Norton manager Joe Davies was full of praise for his side’s efforts as their superb Emirates FA Cup campaign came to an end at the second qualifying round with a narrow 2-1 defeat at home to National League South side Weston-super-Mare, writes Matthew Bruce.

Four divisions separate the two sides in the football pyramid, but Hooky held their opponents for 78 minutes before the visitors broke the deadlock with a controversial penalty.

It was a decision which particularly upset Davies, who was sent from the touchline following the incident.

He said: “I was really pleased with the way we matched them for almost the entire match – and then all hell broke loose.

“The ball came into the box from a corner and hit a hand and the linesman has flagged for a penalty.

“My players are all adamant that it hit a Weston hand, not one of theirs.

“I never usually get like that, but we had worked so hard and deserved at least a draw from the game.

“We just felt so aggrieved that such a big decision went against us with very little evidence.”

Seagulls’substitute Bradley Ash beat keeper Kurt Fox from the spot.

Witney Gazette:

Hook Norton’s heroes are ready to spring into action against Weston-super-Mare in the FA Cup on Saturday

Hooky responded almost immediately with a stunning long-range effort from captain Joe Eyre, but were unable to hang on as their higher-league opponents edged in front once more.

The Hooky defence allowed visiting centre forward Scott Wilson to head home in a congested penalty area.

Hooky sub Nathan Bott twice went close to snatching an equaliser.

First he hit the base of the left post with the keeper beaten and then he crossed into the goalmouth, but no-one was on hand to apply the finishing touch.

Although it ended in disappointment, Davies feels the match was a huge success for the club, in front of a record crowd of 533 at the Bourne.

“We wanted to give all those fans a reason to come back,” he said.

“So often you see grounds packed to the rafters for a big game and then they go and get beaten heavily and you struggle to get one man and his dog in the next week.

“But we were brilliant and, if we had to lose the game, I think the best way to do it was as we did, because we fought them all the way.

“I didn’t want it to be over, but that’s probably the best way we could have gone out.”

Hook Norton: Fox, Peppiatt, Rose, Watkin, Snelling, Poole, Reeves (Butt), Hall (Rose), Thornton, Green, Eyre. Subs not used: Davies, Smith, Field.