FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying.

Chippenham Town 2-3 Horsham.

A VALIANT late rally was not enough to stop Chippenham Town crashing out of the FA Cup to an impressive Horsham.

Luke Gullick and Kevin Halliday had given the Bluebirds hope with goals inside the last 15 minutes but the damage was done, as they were already 3-0 down.

The defeat ends manager Adie Mings' unbeaten record at Hardenhuish Park and is the first home loss since the 3-1 reverse to King's Lynn in January.

The Bluebirds struggled to get any early cohesion in a sloppy and lethargic start but Jake Reid saw two efforts fly off target.

Carl Rook fired over at the other end before heading straight at Chris Snoddy and the lack of composure from his side would have concerned Mings.

The Hornets started to dominate and were inches away from taking the lead in the 38th minute but Rook slid the ball wide at the near post.

Kes Metitiri failed to emerge after half time following a clash of heads with Rook just before the break, being replaced by Ollie Price, and his absence hit the Bluebirds hard.

45 seconds into the half the visitors took the lead when Lewis Taylor's 20 yard strike looped in off the post after hitting Mark Badman.

Scott Lye was then agonisingly close to an equaliser but saw Kevin Hemsley head his lob off the line after 57 minutes and, three minutes later, Horsham doubled their lead.

Lee Carney and Taylor pulled the Bluebirds apart down the right and Simon Austin turned in Carney's low centre.

The Hornets were racing clear and added a third on 65 minutes when Rook scored from close range after Simon Austin outpaced the Chippenham defence.

Despite being 3-0 down, the Bluebirds finally started to play with some passion and tempo and Reid tested keeper Alan Mansfield at his near post.

From the resulting corner, the ball eventually fell to Halliday who nodded into the path of Gullick who netted from six yards.

There was suddenly a belief from the hosts and with five minutes to go Mansfield inexplicably let Halliday's weak shot from 18 yards into the net.

But despite desperate late pressure it was Horsham, who will play Maidenhead at home in the first round, who almost scored again, with Price blocking Carney's goalbound shot.

A disappointed Mings said afterwards: "We defended poorly and they never really had to work hard for two of their goals.

"We had a sluggish start but we showed when we play at tempo we can put sides under pressure.

"But they are young lads and showed a lot of character."

Chippenham Town: Snoddy, Adams, Halliday, Metitiri (Price, 45), Peckham, Badman (Allison, 61), Lye, Holly (c), Reid, Cornwall, Pratt (Gullick, 55)