March Town United suffered penalty shoot out agony at Kings Lynn Town Reserves in the First Division Knock Out Cup last night.

Dan Woods’ penalty and Denny Escorcios’s delightful chip saw them leading 2-0 on 37 minutes but the hosts pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time.

Lynn drew level early in the second half but Woods fired March into the lead on 67 minutes.

But Lynn equalised on 85 minutes and, after a goalless extra time period, the Linnets won 4-2 on penalties.

Manager Chris Bartlett said: “It was a great effort. We were stretched pretty thin in terms of personnel but there are no excuses.

“We went 2-0 up and if we had held on until half time I don’t think they would have got back in it. When they equalised their tails were up so we realised we needed to make some changes and went 3-2 up with a great goal.

“We should have seen it out but, for their third goal, there was a definite push on our centre half.

“In the shootout a couple of our lads unfortunately couldn’t convert, which happens, but I was happy with the way we competed. We matched them in every way.”

Saturday was a more enjoyable afternoon for the Hares - Escorcio and Woods both bagged braces in a 4-1 league win over Needham Market at the GER.

With Juliano Menezes working himself back to full fitness, March are putting together a strikeforce to be feared, although Bartlett says he would like his side to tighten up in defence.

Bartlett said: “We are playing three up top. Juliano (Menezes) is a bit behind the other two in terms of games and sharpness but he’ll get there. All three of them can get goals and our midfielders can chip in too.

“But, at the same time, we are still conceding too many goals. Our defenders are playing well individually but collectively we are still sometimes switching off.”

Bartlett expects a tough test when the Hares host Long Melford, who are three places above them in third in the Thurlow Nunn First division, on Saturday.

He said: “They are very strong physically, direct and have lots of pace out wide.”