LYME Regis crashed out of the Dorset Senior Trophy at the quarter-final stage with a heartbreaking 3-2 loss at Poole Borough.

The Seasiders dominated, creating numerous chances in the first half, but went behind when the opportunistic Carl Preston scored a sublime 25-yard lob.

Lyme, who twice hit the post – including a long-range Fred Persons drive – went into the break 1-0 down but Rikki Sargent levelled on 60 minutes when his arcing header converted a Rob Fellingham corner.

Poole’s second shot on target of the game put them 2-1 up, Callum Neate’s stunning 25-yard half-volley finding the top corner.

Spirited Lyme pushed on and were rewarded when lively sub Tom Bastin cut inside to score, sending the tie into extra-time.

Lyme held on until the 116th minute when Jim Crossin beat the offside trap to send the Hornets into a semi-final against either Shaftesbury Reserves or Merley.

Seasiders’ joint-boss Julien Simier said: “It’s one of those games where you watch your team create 20 million chances as they’re not going in.

“We tried hard but the ball was going into the stand, hitting the post or the keeper was making good saves.

“I was exaggerating but we had 10 to 20 chances and should’ve been 3-0 up at half-time.

“They had two shots, two screamers and it dropped our heads a little bit.

“You can have 90 per cent of the ball and be the best team on the pitch, but if you don’t score the other team only need one goal.

“What matters is the score at the end. That’s the lesson we learned – we need to finish. That’s the only thing we’re missing.”

Lyme return to Devon & Exeter League Premier East action away to unbeaten Feniton on Saturday.

“It’s going to be another physical game,” Simier said. “They’re going to be ready, fit and they will push us.

“I don’t think they were happy with the 2-2 draw. I’m expecting them to come strong at us.”

Lyme: Garner, Pollard-Jones, K Wellman, J Sargent, R Sargent, T Wellman, Fellingham, Parsons, Rendell, Bond, Rowe. Subs: Bastin, Bailey.