Gallant Hook Norton came within a whisker of holding Vanarama National League South side Weston-super-Mare to a shock replay at The Bourne.

The Hellenic League Division 1 West hosts, having reached the FA Cup second qualifying round for the first time, matched the visitors for 75 minutes.

After going behind to a penalty, Hooky fought back to equalise, only to concede again and suffer a 2-1 defeat.

Joe Davies’s side refused to give up and only the woodwork denied them a second equaliser.

In front of their biggest ever home crowd of 533, Hooky shared the honours in a goalless first half.


They also weathered Weston pressure just after the break and the game seemed set for a stalemate before the visitors were awarded a disputed 78th-minute penalty.

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

Hooky levelled two minutes later when skipper Joe Eyre lashed home a 20-yard shot into the top left-corner of the Weston net to the delirium of the home fans.

But, on 82 minutes, the Hooky defence allowed visiting centre forward Scott Wilson to head home in a congested penalty area.

Hooky substitute 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.

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