Sidmouth Town bowed out of the FA Vase on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw with Peninsula West hosts St Austell.

The game started in the worst possible way for Sidmouth, despite nearly opening the scoring with a Sam Hatswell free kick, St Austell capitalised on some poor defending to take a 2-0 lead in the opening seemed minutes.

It seemed as if the occasion was too much for The Vikings and the SWPL West leaders were in for an easy afternoon. However, Sidmouth regained composure and started to play their passing game and create openings.

Louis Jagger Cane burst down the right but rattled his shot into the side netting. He then broke free again and lashed an effort off the under side of the cross bar and the ball raced across the box to safety.

At half-time, Sidmouth were sent out with a message to move the ball quicker and to leave everything on the pitch. The game followed a similar pattern as the first half with Sidmouth dominating the ball but not quite getting that clear chance that was needed.

Striker Scott Hughes emerged from the bench and had an immediate impact, dominating the centre back in his first aerial dual and the breakthrough finally arrived in the 75th minute when Sam Hatswell delivered the set piece for Will Jenkins, who this time got it right and headered past the keeper.

Four minutes later and Sidmouth were level, Ben Lawrence stepping into midfield and clipping a ball in behind the defence to Hughes, who lifted his header over the ‘keeper.

It seemed like there would only be one winner and it looked like the turnaround was complete in the 84th minute when Nathan Cooper slipped in Liam Carey, who kept his composure to slot into the net after going around the keeper, sparking wild celebrations in the corner with the Viking ultras getting the goals their non-stop singing deserved. 

Sidmouth looked comfortable until the 90th minute when a long goal kick was misjudged at the back and the St Austell striker nipped in to equalise for the Cornish hosts, who took that momentum into the shoot-out.

The Sidmouth Spar Man of the Match was awarded to Sam Hatswell (Sponsored by The Golden Boys).