Boston United surrendered a two-goal lead and then went on to squander three penalties in the shootout as they exited the Isuzu FA Trophy on Saturday afternoon.
Jacob Hazel and Jai Rowe had fired the Pilgrims into a seemingly unassailable lead, only for old adversaries Glen Taylor and Rob Ramshaw to force penalties.
Despite Tony Weston scoring and Cameron Gregory making one save, home keeper Brad James saved from Jimmy Knowles, Sam Osborne and Zak Mills to see his side through.
The result ended United’s hopes of returning to Wembley Stadium – 40 years on from their solitary appearance to date in 1985.
Gregory made early saves to deny Corey McKeown and Taylor but the first half was a stop-start affair in the Durham winter sunshine.
United suffered a blow before half-time, with Frankie Maguire forced off after taking a blow to the head in an accidental collision with own team-mate Keaton Ward.
The Pilgrims ramped up their performance after the break and took the lead in the 55th minute when HAZEL diverted the ball home from close-range after Rowe’s header had cannoned back off the crossbar, following Ward’s corner delivery.
ROWE went one better four minutes later when he thumped home a powerful header from another Ward flag-kick.
The hosts made a double change and were back in the contest two minutes later, with TAYLOR rolling the ball home from inside the penalty area.
Taylor subsequently rattled the post, before RAMSHAW levelled with 12 minutes to play following an incisive Moors break.
Ramshaw crashed another effort off target as Moors sensed blood, but the game’s defining moment arrived six minutes from time when Hazel’s lob was ruled out by the tightest of offside calls.
Taylor and Matty Dolan got Spennymoor off to a successful start in the shootout, although Aidan Rutledge was denied by Gregory and Olly Dyson rattled the bar. Only Weston was on target for the Pilgrims, with James’ saves to deny Knowles, Osborne and Mills proving decisive.
Spennymoor (4-2-3-1): Brad James; Olly Dyson, Dan Rowe, Ben Beals, Reece Staunton; Callum Ross (Finley Shrimpton 78), Matty Dolan; Junior Mondal (Michael Ledger 64), Rob Ramshaw, Corey McKeown (Aidan Rutledge 64); Glen Taylor. Subs (not used): Archie Dodds, Finlay Rose, Nathan McGinley, Ryan Johnson (gk).
Boston (4-2-3-1): Cameron Gregory; Jai Rowe, Zak Mills, Connor Teale, Cameron Green (Kieran Coates 73); Dylan Hill, Martin Woods (Jordan Richards 90); Keaton Ward (Sam Osborne 65), Frankie Maguire (Jacob Hazel 45), Tony Weston; James Gale (Jimmy Knowles 75). Subs (not used): Tom Leak, Jake Lovelace (gk).
Referee: Garreth Rhodes.
Attendance: 1,028 (167 visitors).
PIC: David Nelson.
