BOSS Matty Holmes was “gutted” as Wimborne Town’s promotion dream ended in spot-kick agony.

Magpies saw their play-off final hopes dashed 4-3 in a penalty shootout by Swindon Supermarine at Cuthbury following a goalless 120 minutes.

In front of a bumper crowd of 1,272, Billy Maybury and Luke Burbidge saw their attempts from 12 yards saved by Supermarine keeper Josh Hill.

The visitors fired all four of their required spot-kicks past Gerard Benfield to ensure they secured promotion to Southern Premier and denied Magpies the chance to reach the highest level in their history.

Supermarine rode their luck however and were on the right end of one of the contest’s big calls.

Visiting skipper Zak Westlake was judged to have pulled back Toby Holmes marginally outside the box five minutes before the end of normal time.

Despite sending off the defender, referee Andy Bennett eventually awarded Magpies a free-kick after consulting with his linesman – despite boss Holmes believing it was a “stonewall penalty” with the main contact coming inside the area.

Reacting after the shootout, the Wimborne manager told the Daily Echo: “I was gutted. All our season’s work came down to a penalty shootout.

“I think the first half was a pretty awful game. We tried to play a little more than they did. They went long all the time which we tried to counteract.

“Our boys could have been a bit braver on the ball, we said that at half-time and I thought we got into the game more.

“When the lad took Toby out he was through. He was about to pull the trigger and got pulled back. He was rightly sent off I believe.

“I think it was a stonewall penalty. The fourth official actually said to me it was a penalty and I was shocked when I saw us putting it on the edge of the box for a free-kick.

“The linesman I think got involved heavily and he felt he contact was made outside the box and he stumbled in. I would say contact was made outside but huge contact was made inside when Toby was still on his feet.

“It was a tough one to call and I’d have to look back at the video but that won’t do much good and it doesn’t change things.

“We weren’t out footballed which was a saving grace. We were beaten by a direct, physical side which earned a penalty shootout. Fair play to them, they stuck their penalties away.”

Wimborne named an unchanged side from the team which beat Didcot 2-0 to earn their place in the play-off final.

After a cagey opening, Magpies fashioned the first shot on goal after six minutes. Winger Burbidge was allowed space to cut inside and drive at the home defence but his powerful effort was straight into the hands of visiting keeper Hill.

Supermarine defender Matt Coupe went into the book for a foul on Jack Lovell before the visitors’ first real chance came midway through the first half.

A neat flick-on from frontman Brad Gray allowed Callum Parsons the chance to run in on goal but Magpies stopper Benfield was smartly off his line to snuff out any danger.

Both sides struggled to find their fluency during the opening half but Supermarine should have been ahead eight minutes before the break.

After some confusion at the back earned Swindon a corner, Michael Hopkins’s delivery found Joe Shephard unmarked at the back post. He failed to keep his header down from four yards out.

Ryan Campbell’s cross from the opposite flank was then glanced wide of the far post by striker Gray, who had flung himself to reach the ball, and Hopkins sent a left-foot free-kick marginally wide.

Following the break, Campbell worked Benfield with a volley which took a deflection. At the other end, Burbidge’s strike was comfortable for stopper Hill.

The visitors continued to threaten at set-pieces. A well-delivered corner was met by the head of skipper Westlake. Despite leaping highest, he failed to hit the target.

Toby Holmes’s service was limited during the opening period but he almost showed his clinical edge three minutes before the hour.

Having picked up the ball on the counter, the Wimborne frontman spotted keeper Hill off his line but the strike from distance drifted well wide.

Magpies then had two glorious opportunities to find a winner with 15 minutes of normal time remaining.

Burbidge skipped away from two defenders and, having beat the keeper, saw his strike stabbed off the line. Toby Holmes then forced a sharp stop after finding space on the edge of the box.

Tempers then flared as Westlake appeared to kick out at Benfield when he claimed a cross. Referee Bennett felt a yellow card was sufficient punishment.

But Westlake’s afternoon was ended abruptly three minutes later as he was given a straight red card for bringing down Toby Holmes, who had got goalside and went to ground.

After consulting with his assistant, man-in-the middle Bennett awarded a free-kick inches outside rather than a penalty.

Both sides had to dig in as the contest ended 0-0 after 90 minutes. With the man advantage. Magpies came within inches of breaking the deadlock.

After a free-kick cannoned off the wall, midfielder Louis Kellaway’s rasping volley smashed the top of the crossbar.

Supermarine substitute Connor Thompson then could have wrapped up the contest. He latched on to a looped ball from Sam Morris and hammered into the side netting after shifting on to his left foot.

Wimborne piled on the pressure late on but with neither side able to find a winner, promotion was decided by spot-kicks.

Maybury stepped up first and was thwarted by Hill diving to his left.

After seven converted penalties, Burbidge saw his strike saved to end Magpies’ hopes.

Magpies: Benfield, Maybury, Hester (Walker, 95), Arnold (Penny, 120), Oldring, Kellaway, Stokoe (Francis, 104), L Holmes, T Holmes, Burbidge, Lovell. 

Unused subs: Davidson, Bayston.

Booked: None.

Supermarine: Hill, Alexander, Hopkins, Shephard, Coupe, Westlake, Selman (Thompson,74) Hooper, Gray, Parsons (Morris, 87), Campbell (Woodley, 93). 

Unused subs: Else, Gerrish 

Booked: Coupe, Selman, Westlake.

Sent off: Westlake.

Referee: Andy Bennett (Woking).

Attendance: 1,272.