PAUL Shanley was left wondering if his Bradford Town side are simply destined never to win the Wiltshire Senior Cup after they suffered their second successive final defeat on Wednesday night.

Bradford have reached the final of the county cup three times in the last five seasons and after losing on penalties to Melksham Town last term, they were bested 2-1 by Hellenic League Highworth Town at Hardenhuish Park in Chippenham.

Shanley’s men mounted a spirited fightback after Premier League referee Lee Probert, guesting for his local FA, sent off Bradford’s Steve Hulbert with more than half an hour to go but two second half strikes put paid to their cup dreams.

“For some reason, the Wilts Cup doesn’t seem to have Bradford’s name on it, whatever we’ve done,” said the Bradford boss.

“I thought we did enough to win the game. We had good chances first half and should have been ahead but then we got done very similarly to last year against Melksham - it was straight after kick-off in the second half with a 30-yard shot.

“We dug in deep but then there was a horrendous decision by the referee – never a sending off.

“I don’t know what he’s seen. You see the reactions of their players; you usually get a reaction if it’s bad. We were right there and we felt Stevie got fouled twice before he got tackled.

“But we showed character to come back and get to 1-1 and we’ve had chances to go and win the game. I think their keeper probably got man of the match, which says it all.

“It’s the second year running now that we’ve come here and had chances in the final and not taken them. And if you don’t take your chances, you don’t win football games.”

Gary Stevens saved well from Bradford’s Sam Jordan in a cagey first period before Highworth took the lead just a few minutes after the break, with Ryan King lashing home from the edge of the area.

Shanley’s side then had Hulbert sent off for a challenge on goalscorer King but his dismissal rallied the men in blue and they got back on level terms when Niekell Plummer squeezed in a rasping low shot.

But Highworth put one hand on the trophy when substitute Nathan Blackford clipped a ball into the area and fellow winger Dan Drewett arrowed a superb effort into the bottom corner to make it 2-1.

Shanley added: “We had a good (FA) Vase run, a good FA Cup run – the longest the club’s gone in both competitions – but this would have just been nice for the boys.”

Striker Jordan scored as Bradford lost 2-1 to Bridport in the league last weekend.