PONTELAND United crashed out of the Team Valley Carpets Challenge Cup in a 5-2 defeat to AFC New Fordley after extra time.

It was Ponteland who drew first blood early on. Playing in dreadful conditions, United broke down the left flank. Winger Zac Bewley beat his man and squared the ball across the box, allowing Reece Havelock-Brown to slot home.

On 25 minutes, the impressive Bewley cut in from the left once again, but his shot cannoned back off the post and Fordley were able to clear their lines. Fordley levelled just before the break, when Patrick Gibbons steered home Andrew Robertson’s pass.

Ponteland had a golden chance to restore their lead on 48 minutes.

Bewley again came in from the left and was brought down in the box for a clear penalty. Havelock-Brown stepped up seeking his second goal, but goalkeeper Liam Dodds got a good hand to the ball and pushed it away.

Things got even worse for Ponteland on 71 minutes, when Trae Rowlandson’s cross was met by Mark Doninger to give Fordley a 2-1 lead.

It looked as though it would stay that way, but with just three minutes to go, Bewley created another moment of magic, bending a superb free kick into the top corner from 25 yards out.

The rain continued to pour, but the teams came back out for extra time. The superior physicality of Fordley began to tell, and as Henry Rawlinson went in the sin-bin for 10 minutes, United started to tire. Three goals in the final 10 minutes, including a fine finish from veteran striker Ian Lee, saw Fordley record a somewhat flattering victory.