CALNE lost out in a seven-goal thriller at bottom club Ilfracombe to return from North Devon empty-handed for the sixth consecutive season.

Kelvin Highmore's side weathered an early storm and went two goals in front through Matt Pratley and James Lye by the 14th minute. But the home side refused to give up and by the 70th minute had turned the match on its head to lead 3-2.

Glenn Armstrong pulled Calne level again and they pushed hard for the winner by the was Ilfracombe's Mike Symons who netted the crucial seventh goal just before the end.

Highmore said: "You shouldn't say it's a game you should win but we certainly shouldn't have lost it. We were 2-0 up and flying and could have scored five or six. We started well going forward but defensively four or five players were not at the races."

In Calne's first attack in the fourth minute Ryan Pratley crossed from the right and Ben Moore headed into the path of Matt Pratley who fired home from 18 yards.

Ten minutes later Matt Pratley crossed and Ben Highmore to knock down for James Lye to turn and clip in the second.

Ray Squire got the home back into the game with a crisp finish on 23 minutes. The second half started with a bang as Ilfracombe levelled inside three minutes with a 30-yard cracker.

Ilfracombe's Steve Burns turned the game on its head in the 69th.

Calne immediately hit-back and a lovely Lye free-kick found the head of Robbie Lardner who guided the ball back across for Glenn Armstrong to smash in.

Calne were rejuvenated and continued to chase the winner as Ilfracombe began to tire.

But the pendulum was to swing one more time back in the home team's favour on 82 minutes.

Darren Smart's headed back-pass was misjudged by goalkeeper Darryl Simms and Mike Symons nipped in to bag a simple winner.

Calne are without a game this weekend, they face Clevedon at home on Tuesday night.