BISTERNE United reserves salvaged a last-gasp 2-2 draw and then won 9-8 on penalties to lift the MA Hart Page Croft Cup against Alderholt reserves.

Nick Howes forced home the leveller in the final minute of added time as Bisterne battled back from two goals down against their Hayward Saturday Division Three rivals at Hurn Bridge.

Bisterne had the better of the opening exchanges but fell behind when defender Ben Tucker’s back pass bobbled past keeper Russell Goodman.

Alderholt lost the services of Dan Oakley, who was stretchered off after 25 minutes, but rallied to double their advantage when Jamie Wood darted on to a threaded pass and slotted past the advancing Goodman.

The turning point came when Bisterne’s Sam Hills and Charlie Heggan were introduced to the action three minutes into the second half.

Darren Mein halved the deficit from the penalty spot after Lascelles Richardson was brought down by Alderholt keeper Jonny Cook.

Richardson hit the post two minutes later as United pushed for an equaliser, and the Alderholt goal continued to lead a charmed life when Mein’s second spot-kick came back off the upright after 77 minutes.

But with the fat lady clearing her throat, Howes popped up to with a close-range finish at the death.

Undeterred, Alderholt’s Wood tested Goodman eight minutes into the additional 30, while Bisterne’s Dave Lock had a header clawed away by Cook.

Alderholt then substituted their keeper ahead of the shoot-out, although Graham Cash saw his effort hacked of the line by a United defender with the 120 minutes almost up.

But the match went to penalties and in the end, the switch of custodian was to no avail in a nail-biting finale which saw both teams take 12 penalties and each goalkeeper successfully slot past their counterpart.

Bisterne’s Lock successfully despatched the decisive kick from 12 yards to take the silverware for his side.

United substitute Heggan was selected as man of the match by BFA president Mike Fowler.

Bisterne: Russell Goodman, Dave Lock, Jordan Deo, Ben Tucker (Charlie Heggan, 48), Alec Moorman, Benn Kitchiner, Sean Thomas (Sam Hills, 48), Lascelles Richardson (Ben Daniels, 86), Darren Mein, Nick Howes, Sam Yeats.

Alderholt: Jonny Cook (Luke Davis, 118), Bradley Vellenoweth, Sam Bates, Darren Gale, Rob Gilbert (Graham Cash, 85), Simon Dorrington, Alistair Barter, Dan Oakley (Jamie Pain, 25), Jason Thorne, Jamie Wood, Tom Cranmer.