VERWOOD Town’s memorable FA Vase adventure came to a disappointing end when they crashed to a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Torpoint Athletic tonight.

The Cornish outfit left Verwood with a mountain to climb after they raced into a 4-1 half-time lead at Potterne Park in this thrice postponed third round tie.

Torpoint, currently sixth in the Premier Division of the South West Peninsula League, stunned their hosts by taking the lead through Liam Thornton’s 20-yard strike after just five minutes.

And although Verwood responded when a fierce drive from Martin Smith rattled the underside of the crossbar, Thornton doubled the visitors’ lead after Dan Fawcett could only parry Adam Carter’s effort.

Nathan Saxby squandered a presentable chance to halve the deficit before Verwood’s Vase talisman Mike Haskell again wove his magic to give the hosts hope.

Haskell, who netted four times to help the Wessex One outfit reach this stage, bagged his fifth goal with a finely-taken effort after 35 minutes.

However, Verwood’s comeback mission was stopped in its tracks as Carter’s low drive and a Josh Grant tap-in put Torpoint in the driving seat at the break.

Grant added his second and Athletic’s fifth midway through the second half before Verwood skipper Charlie Elysee completed the scoring with a deft finish 14 minutes from time.

Verwood, in only their second season in the competition, did themselves proud by reaching the last 64, while Torpoint will meet West Midlands Regional League Bloxwich United in the fourth round next month.

Verwood: Fawcett, Dear, Murray, Delaney, Lynch (Morrison, 81), Smith, Elysee, Wrixton (Lanahan, 75), Haskell, Saxby (Webb, 79), Dyer. Unused sub: Tong (g/k).