A 4-3 penalty shootout defeat saw 10-man Exmouth Town knocked out of the FA Trophy by Swindon Supermarine, having drawn 1-1 in normal time.

It was two spot-kicks that saw the game reach its shootout conclusion, as Isaac McCue and Dan Warre scoring from 12-yards out on each side of half time.

Joe Belsten was sent off for an alleged handball in the lead-up to Supermarine’s incident, which meant Town spent most of the second half a man down.

Town would make a few changes from their FA Cup replay defeat against Shaftesbury, bringing in Josh Cann, McCue, Ed Butcher and Ethan Slater.

The game started quietly, with both sides unable to break each other down, with Town winning some corners, but failing to threaten from them.

Slater would have the first shot of the game after 20 minutes, as a difficult volley would find the gloves of Luke Purnell.

Ed Butcher would create Town’s second opportunity, having a cross deflected on target, although it was held by the goalkeeper.

Warre tried his luck from range, registering Supermarine’s first shot, but it would go off target.

Cann would find plenty of space on the left, and his cross would find Matt Wright, who could not quite get his header on goal.

Town would have a perfect chance to go ahead, as Ben Steer was brought down in the box by Owen Foye.

McCue would step up, and just like he did against Supermarine in the league opener, he would find the back of the net.

Just before the break, Warre would go close from range, as his effort fizzed past the post.

The game would be flipped on its head after the break, as Joe Belsten was deemed to have handled the ball on the line, and the referee pointed to the spot.

Warre smashed his penalty off the bar and in, levelling proceedings.

Down a man, Exmouth would stay organised and limit the opposition’s chances, with Josh Blyth’s header going past the post and wide.

Mike Landricombe would have his own chance to head home, but it was floated into the hands of Purnell.

Chris Wright was forced into action with 20 minutes to go, as a T’awana Changa effort was well met by the goalkeeper. 

Exmouth would rally late in the game, earning a free-kick which was swung to the head of Landricombe, but he could not divert it past Purnell.

Monk had a curling effort from range that slowly crept through Town bodies, forcing Wright into one last save.

A penalty shootout awaited, and both sides started off as poorly as possible, with both Jamie Edge and Luke Steer missing.

James Harding, Ethan Slater, Joe Selman and Ben Griffith would find the back of the net, with the latter needing a retake to do so.

Changa slotted his penalty past Wright, and despite having his first effort saved, another retake would allow Ollie Knowles to keep the scores level.

Frankie Monk converted his spot-kick, leaving the pressure on Aarron Denny, who had his penalty saved, meaning the visitors had come out on top.

Exmouth will look to leave the cup disappointment behind them and focus on the league, as they travel to Didcot Town next Saturday.

Line-Up: Wright, Belsten, Cann (Morcom, 88), Landricombe, Knowles, Slater, Denny, McCue (L.Steer, 72), B.Steer (Kennell, 88), Butcher (Shipton, 53), Wright (Griffith, 72).