PENALTY shoot-out defeats are hard to accept at the best of times. Just ask England fans.

But in what was undoubtedly a subdued dressing room after Wimborne's exit at the hands of local rivals Bournemouth Poppies, boss Paul Arnold then broke the news to his players that he will retire from football management at the end of the season.

Football can be a harsh mistress at times and the likeable Arnold was clearly choked by the emotion that his five-year stint is now in its final furlong.

But he was also left to reflect on this semi-final lost in a game of Russian Roulette where Christer Warren was the unfortunate victim after Scott Joyce had levelled the tie on aggregate with a second-half strike.

Arnold said: "It's a farcical way to lose and that's not sour grapes. For some reason it's a Wessex League rule that it goes straight to penalties rather than extra-time in this competition.

"I felt we just shaded it over the 90 minutes, but it's a big disappointment.

"It's another year without any silverware."

After an even and spiky first half, Joyce appeared to have set the Magpies on their way with a clinical finish from Gareth Barnes' cross nine minutes into the second half after good work from Scott Arnold.

But Poppies, who won the first leg 1-0 at Victoria Park, defended excellently and looked a threat on the break - particularly in the final 10 minutes as both sides pressed for the winner for the right to meet Lymington Town in the final.

Sadly, a penalty shoot-out always leaves a sour taste as a way to separate two very evenly-matched sides.

Poppies' successful takers of Leigh Phillips, Ollie Cherrett, Gary Langrish, Tim Constable and Mark Dancer can take huge credit for holding their nerve.

But it was Warren's kick - sending Jason Harvell the wrong way but clipping the outside of the post with his effort - that ultimately saw Wimborne defeated after Ben Thomson, Joyce and Steve Whitcher had scored.

Poppies boss James Wood - who is rumoured to be a target of Christchurch to become their next manager - said: "Of course, I'm delighted with the result but I felt it could have gone either way. It was a very close game and both teams had chances."

On the Priory speculation, he said: "I take it as a compliment, but I honestly haven't spoken to anyone about that job.

"You can never say never with these things, but providing things stay the same here and we get backed as we have been, I'm more than happy to stay where I am.

"We are building something here and I'm delighted for the players that we're in the final."

Wimborne: Kearn, Arnold, Langrish, Phillipson-Masters (Whitcher, 88), Roast, Griffiths, Culliford (McCormick, 67), Warren, Barnes (Thomson, 90), Joyce, Cannie. Unused sub: Kenway.

Poppies: Harvell, Cuglietta, Bailey-Pearce, Dibba, Cherrett, McCabe (Sanderson, 64), Langrish, Dancer, Phillips, Swann, Constable. Unused subs: M Toy, C Toy, Ackerman, Merritt.