Hartpury FC suffered a late 3-2 defeat against Willand Rovers at Silver Street on Saturday in the Southern League Div One South.
Despite Louis Manning and Billy Osborn getting the Acorns back level a last gasp winner saw Rovers walk away with all three points.
The Acorns struck the opening chance of the game on 11 minutes when after beating his man, Louis Manning saw a well struck effort beaten away.
Moments later Renato Prifti had a half chance when he met an Akai Bonnick cross, but it was straight at Adam Seedhouse-Evans in the Rovers goal.
Straight down the other end for Rovers, striker Tom Bath was denied by the post, keeping the game deadlocked.
Billy Osborn was denied by an incredible point-blank ranged save from Seedhouse-Evans after he flicked a Manning cross towards goal on 17 minutes.
But it was Rovers who took the lead with a sensational strike from Joshua Searle who picked out the top corner from 20-yards.
Drew Robinson had two late chances in the half, meeting two Manning crosses, but on both ocassions was superbly denied by Seedhouse-Evans, seeing the Acorns enter the break behind.
HALF TIME- WILLAND ROVERS 1-0 HARTPURY FC
Rovers wasted no time doubling their lead on 47 minutes when Harvey Dorothy rolled an effort into the far corner from close range.
Bath came close on 63 minutes, but his headed effort from a corner looped just over the bar.
But the Acorns got one back on 71 minutes when Manning’s dinked cross bounced off the post and into the back of the net.
Moments later Bonnick struck a sweet volley agonisingly wide as the Acorns started to pick up the pace.
The Acorns completed their comeback on 84 minutes when Osborn made no mistakes from the spot.
Nathan Jenkins tried his luck to turn the game around when he drove from halfway before striking low straight at the keeper on 86 minutes.
But it was late heartbreak for the Acorns as Rovers struck home from close range in the 97th minute, handing the Acorns their third straight defeat.
The Acorns will be looking to bounce back when we return to the 4ED next Saturday to face Brixham AFC in the Southern League.
FULL TIME- WILLAND ROVERS 3-2 HARTPURY FC
STARTING XI: Smallwood (GK), Kent, Robinson (Shyamapant 65’), Towns (Vaughan 81’), Sims, Jenkins, Prifti (Callow 51’), Coates, Manning, Osborn ©, Bonnick
