Shortwood Utd 3 (Davis 41, 58, 70)

Didcot Tn 2 (Roach 48, Vine 84)

Didcot were bundled out at the hands of Hellenic League outfit Shortwood, and have only themselves to blame.

While their performance wasn't great, Didcot would still have fancied their chances of progressing further in the competition, but they were undone by some calamitous defending and a hat-trick by Shortwood's Chris Davis.

The home side began brightly a created a half chance in the first minute which Ross Casey blazed over.

However, within a short while it was the visitors that looked in control with Shortwood on the back-foot.

A brilliant move that started deep in the Didcot half ended with Jack King’s delicate chip that sailed narrowly over the bar.

King then saw his firm volley blocked following a well-worked corner and then Simeon Howell headed another set-piece wide.

Unfortunately, Didcot were seemingly thinking about their half-time tea when they were undone by Shortwood’s only attempt on target in the first half.

A long ball over the top caused confusion between the centre of defence and keeper Michael Watkins and Davis was left the simple task of lobbing the ball into an open net from just outside the box.

It was a short-lived lead though and Didcot levelled shortly after the interval.

Jamie Heapy and King combined to release Roach who struck home past Martin Pearce.

Things weren’t level for long, and the 56th minute Martin Brown’s poorly judged back-header was seized upon by Davis, who couldn’t miss from ten yards.

Didcot were almost gifted a goal when Pearce made a hash of Howell’s long shot, but gratefully grabbed the ball after it had rebound off the inside of a post and trickled along the goal-line.

It was increasingly looking like it wasn’t Didcot’s day when a similar mistake at the other end was punished.

Another long ball over the top of the defence looked to have been claimed by Watkins, but Davis kicked the ball from his grasp and rolled it into an open net.

Watkins was booked for his protests, but in truth, he only had himself to blame.

Two goals behind and Didcot should have been laying seige to the Shortwood goal.

Ashley Vine headed home his side’s second goal to set-up a dramatic finish, but it was not to be.

Didcot Tn: Watkins, Heapy, Bicknell, Williams, Brown (Mortimer-Jones 60), Jack, Howell (Vine 73), King, Bartley, Roach, Powell (Hopkins 77).

Attendance: 120