A SERIES of defensive howlers ended Witney's hopes of an FA Trophy shock at Football Conference strugglers Forest Green.

Andy Lyne's men found themselves facing a Sunday slamming as Alex Sykes, presented with a salver for 100 league appearances before the start, was handed with two more gifts as he helped himself to a hat-trick in the opening 26 minutes.

Town themselves created, and missed, their own chances, but it was their benevolence at the back which proved their undoing.

Steve Tavinor and keeper Kevin Alder's eighth minute muddle and Andy Martin's wayward header six minutes later gifted Sykes two gaping goals and he took full advantage.

The Forest Green striker then doubled his season's tally when a loose ball fell kindly after Witney were again found wanting.

Bookings for Terry Merriman and Chris Organ heaped more misery on the visitors and had Rob Cook converted two more chances, Town could have been facing a defeat of embarrassing proportions. It wasn't one-way traffic by any means. Steve Ovens headed wide, Darren Teggart miskicked in front of goal, Shaun Wimble's free-kick flashed a yard too high and Kenny Clarke saw his 23rd minute shot deflected over.

Home keeper Justin Shuttlewood denied Clarke with the best save of the game before the break, when Tate Hulbert's introduction brought a touch of class to a scrappy match played on a difficult surface in the clinging mud.

Five early corners were testimony to Hulbert's influence after the restart, yet it was Alder who was forced to save twice in one-on-one situations.

Town still pressed forward despite a hopeless cause, with Hulbert the focal point of their attacking forays.

Fortune again favoured Rovers and substitute Chris Smith's first touch saw the ball cannon off his shins and agonisingly past his own upright.

Calamity continued at the opposite end when Alder concluded the comedy of errors when he was dispossessed by Hunt 20 minutes from time and another empty net beckoned.

Story date: Tuesday 19 January

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