SILLS' UNFINISHED BUSINESS AFTER VASE HURT

Tim Sills labelled his side’s penalty shootout defeat in the FA Vase semi-final as an “absolute gutter”, with Hamworthy missing out on a trip to Wembley at the final hurdle.

Confusion on the edge of the box saw Shane Murphy caught out by the wind, allowing Newport Pagnell attacker Mo Ahmed to open scores shortly before the break.

GALLERY: NEWPORT PAGNELL TOWN v HAMWORTHY UNITED (by Ian Middlebrook)

Youngster Cam Munn restored parity before the hour mark, but neither side could convert gilt-edged chances.

That meant the spot at Wembley would be decided by the lottery of spotkicks, and despite ‘keeper Murphy saving two penalties, Hamworthy eventually lost 6-5 to the Buckinghamshire outfit.

Reflecting on the game, boss Sills told the Daily Echo: “I said to them at the start, there's no pressure, no blame attached to anyone, just go out and be positive.

“You've got Shane Murphy who was absolutely superb in the shootout again, gave us a chance and unfortunately I think it maybe just really ran out, a little bit of legs and a little bit of natural penalty takers which maybe we've had before and just unfortunately come up short. So it’s tough to take.

“There wasn’t a lot in it. I think in the first-half we didn't really grab the game as we should have done. We started well and then I think we kind of came off it a little bit and allowed them to come back into it.

“It was another sloppy goal. We don't concede many, but when we do, they're often really bad goals to concede, and today was no different.

“It gives you a mountain to climb. So, second half again, the boys have shown great character.

“Probably didn't kick on quite as much after (the goal) as we wanted and you're looking for players come on and change the game and maybe win the game and it didn’t quite happen today.

“Probably, unfortunately we didn't deserve the game in the 90 minutes. Shame there wasn't a little second leg so we could have gone back to ours and had that chance as well, but we knew what the rules were and like I say, just came up short.”

Despite heartbreak in the Vase, Hamworthy remain in a very strong position in the league.

Whilst victory for Bashley means they are now four points behind the Hammers in the Wessex Premier League, Bash’s win over Shaftesbury means they are now eight points clear of third.

With four games to go, and a game in hand over Bashley, Hammers now know they require six points from their remaining fixtures.

“I think ultimately, at the start the season it was all about the league,” continued Sills.

“The way it finished last season, with us flying and right at the top of the league, that’s ultimately your end goal.

“The club have shown real ambition this year, going with us and really trying to push us to get promotion.

“The Vase was a great bonus, and it's an absolute gutter that we didn't quite get over that final hurdle to give ourselves a really good day out.

“It’s going to hurt (tonight) and then we have to refocus and make sure that we wrap up the league.”

Article Photo: Ian Middlebrook