Binfield suffered FA Vase heartbreak as they conceded two very late goals to lose 3-2 at Stoneham on Saturday.

“It was very disappointing to go out that way after being so close to winning,” said manager Roger Herridge.

“They were a decent Step 6 side who had beaten Step 4 side Westfield in the FA Cup, but we paid the price for missed chances. At 2-1, we had three great opportunities to seal the win, but wasted them.”

The Moles made a decent start to their second qualifying round tie, only to concede an 11th-minute penalty which Sergio Caballero dispatched past keeper Chris Grace.

But they got themselves back in the game with an equaliser from Sean Moore on the half-hour mark, shortly after Carlo Santoro had lost out in a one-on-one with keeper Scott Williams.

The game swung from end to end, but Binfield took the lead in the 72nd minute when a bit of quality from Santoro out wide set up Moore. His shot was blocked, but skipper James Knight followed up to score.

Despite losing Jemel Johnson and Tafari Downes through injury, the Moles battled hard to keep their noses in front until the 88th minute when disaster struck.

They needlessly conceded a free-kick and it led to Caballero blasting home the equaliser.

The Wessex League’s team of the month for August now sensed victory and it came in stoppage time from Ben Clarke, although the Binfield players were adamant there was a handball by Stoneham in the build up.

“We were left gutted,” admitted Herridge. “We were just two minutes away from an ugly win against difficult opponents, so not being able to see the game out was very disappointing.

“We have now got to pick ourselves up and go again against Cirencester this Saturday (3pm). We certainly don’t want to make our exit from two FA competitions in successive weeks.”