WITHAM Town's dream of an extended FA Cup run died as they lost 2-1 at home to Vanarama Conference South side Weston-super-Mare in the fourth qualifying round today (Saturday October 25).
After Witham took an early lead through Kurt Smith, the Gulls fought back and were the better side with their crisper passing and they were 2-1 up by the 54th minute.
However, from the middle of the second half the hosts came more into contention and were denied an equaliser by referee Michael George.
A 73rd minute shot was handled on the line by Weston's Jacob Cane and substitute James Robinson turned the ball into the net.
However, Mr George blew up for a penalty as well as sending off Cane.
Robinson stepped up but his shot hit the crossbar and went over.
Witham did threaten again but they could not conjure an equaliser and after the final whistle home captain Paul King argued with Mr George about why he did not play advantage for the penalty.
Earlier, the anticipation from the home supporters was palpable before the kick-off at Witham's tight ground and a big cheer greeted both teams when they came onto the pitch for the start.
It was a tentative start before Witham gained a big boost when they took the lead in the seventh minute.
Kurt Smith was fouled on the left-hand side, and James Stevens' free-kick into the box saw Smith beat Gulls keeper Luke Purnell to nod home.
Witham exerted more pressure before the Somerset side settled more.
Home keeper Martyn Guest had to punch away a 13th minute corner in a crowded box shortly before a free-kick was nodded wide.
The hosts stood off too much in the 21st minute but Ryan Bath, off-balance, fired wide from 12 yards.
Weston continued to have the edge but Witham looked dangerous on the counter.
Midway through the half Smith broke on the left and made good ground but his intended ball to an unmarked Emmanuel was intercepted.
Then a 28th minute free-kick for Witham fell loose before Lewis Godbold fired wide.
The visitors re-asserted themselves with a good period of play before they equalised.
Home defender Seb Murfet was fouled and the free-kick was cleared for a corner and this was cleared for a second consecutive flag kick.
From this, the tall Clayton Fortune rose powerfully at the near post to head home Dayle Grubb's 36th minute corner.
Shortly after a Witham attack saw Wraight fire wide but the Somerset side continued to look the better in possession.
Guest dived well to keep out shots from Cane and Gus Mafuta.
It was 1-1 at half-time.
The Gulls continued to have edge after the break and a 25-yard Joe McClennan shot forced an excellent diving save from Guest in the 47th minute.
Witham's Connor Mead was booked for a foul on McClennan and the free-kick was cleared before the Somerset second goal went in in a strange fashion in the 54th minute.
A fierce shot from Mafuta was stopped by Guest, and Brad Stopher, facing his own goal, turned it past Guest into his own net.
Town boss Garry Kimble made two substitutions shortly after, bringing on Shammy Pedulu and Usman Adeniji for Stevens and Smith.
Pedulu proved a handful with his pace and dribbling.
Aaron Brown wasted a good chance for the Gulls when he shot straight at Guest before a Witham break saw Pedulu shoot across and wide.
The action switched to the other end as Mafuta shot against a post before Alec Fiddes shot straight at Guest.
Witham were unlucky in the 73rd minute when a goalbound shot was handled by Cane on the line before substitute James Robinson turned the rebound in.
However ref Michael George pointed to the penalty spot before sending off Cane.
Robinson stepped up and fired his penalty onto the crossbar and over.
Witham kept pressing with Pedulu's pace a constant threat.
In injury time a half-cleared home corner saw a Mead effort brilliantly tipped over by Purnell.
WITHAM TOWN: Guest, Mead, Murfet, Stopher, P King, Blackman, Emmanuel, Stevens (Adeniji 56), Smith (Pedula 56), Godbold (Robinson 67), Wraight. Subs not used: Towndrow, Watson, B King.