Hartpury FC bowed out of the FA Cup following a 2-1 defeat to Tuffley Rovers on Saturday at the 4ED Hartpury Stadium.
Despite a late Renato Prifti header, goals from Corey Warrington and Oli Barnes helped see the visitors through to the next round following a physical extra preliminary round tie.
Away from an early half chance through a George Sims header the Acorns first problem causing effort came through Billy Osborn who drove an effort inches past the post on 22 minutes.
But it was the visitors who drew first blood through a well-placed strike from Corey Warrington who found the bottom corner from 18-yards on 30 minutes.
Nathan Jenkins went close to levelling the score seven minutes later, but his volleyed effort bobbled just wide of the goal.
Late in the half, Coates and Jenkins both went close again to levelling the game but saw headed efforts float the wrong side of the woodwork as the Acorns went into the break behind.
Half time – Hartpury FC 0-1 Tuffley Rovers
Tuffley all but instantly doubled their lead after the restart when Oli Barnes made no mistakes from a spot kick on 47 minutes.
The Acorns searched for a response and almost got one on 59 minutes when Osborn had a close ranged effort well saved by Luke Merchant in the Tuffley goal.
Jenkins was in front of goal again 67 minutes, but his effort was well blocked inside the six-yard before Osborn saw a similar chance blocked moments later.
The Acorns threw everything at Tuffley to get back in the game and finally broke the visitors resilience in the sixth minute of additional time when Prifti headed home a Jorrell Sanniola cross, but it wasn’t enough to avoid defeat.
Attention now turns to the next chapter in the Acorns exciting history when we travel to Winchester City in our first Southern League Div One South fixture next Saturday.
Full time – Hartpury FC 1-2 Tuffley Rovers
Starting XI- Smallwood (GK) , Kent, Kelly, Sims, McGregor, Aldridge (Shayamapant 73’), Machisa (Prifti 64’), Jenkins, Osborn ©, Coates, Silva (Sanniola 82’)
Unused subs- Kovacevic (GK), Fusiek
