BRANSGORE ace Scott Mitchell revealed how missed opportunities had caused his BDO World Trophy exit at the second-round stage.

The Dorset thrower averaged 85.65 in his clash with Kyle McKinstry and eventually fell to a 6-3 defeat.

Northern Ireland skipper McKinstry was inspired after rattling in a magical 142 checkout to rock Scotty Dog at 4-2.

But the former Lakeside world champion admitted he squandered previous opportunities to put himself in the box seat.

He told the Daily Echo: “I think I probably dominated the game early doors. In the first leg I had a chance to break Kyle with a 96. I missed darts at double 18 and double nine.

“I held my own throw and did the same in the next leg when I missed a dart at double 16. Those three darts made a massive difference in the early part of the game.

“There was a good chance I could have gone in at the break 4-1 ahead at worst, which would have been a different game mentally for both me and Kyle to deal with.

“I came out after the break and hit a 180 – I felt really good.

“I had left 100 after 12 darts but Kyle shot the 142. He had one dart at double 11 which was a massive shot and he hit it. From there I was chasing the game.

“Really you had to pay credit to Kyle, he hung in there and stuck in while I was having my chances.

“He showed a bit of grit, took his chance when it came and made it look an easy game for him. I was broken at the wrong time and it cost me dearly.

“It’s part of the game and why we stick ourselves up there. You just have to carry on, dust yourself down and go again.

“I have the England Open at Selsey in a couple of weeks’ time and the week after that I am captaining England in the Six Nations.”

The 47-year-old had set up his second round showdown with McKinstry after seeing off Asian qualifier Pengiran Mohamed 6-2 in the opening round with an average of 96.52.

McKinstry fell at the next hurdle at the Preston Guild Hall having been beaten 7-6 in the last eight by Scotland’s Ross Montgomery.