CHIPPENHAM Town missed out on a place in the FA Cup first round proper at the weekend after conceding a heartbreaking 98th minute goal against Concord Rangers.

With the score at 1-1 deep into added time in the fourth qualifying round, the Bluebirds appeared destined for a second penalty shoot-out in a row following Ross Stearn’s second-half equaliser.

Yet, Concord’s Danny Green was on hand to break Chippenham hearts and ensure the Essex outfit booked their place in the main draw at the expense of their National League South peers.

Mike Cook’s men began well on their travels and tested home stopper Chris Haigh in the eighth minute through Adam Mann.

A minute later, Mann brought pressure on the home defence and Noah Smerdon was presented with a good opportunity also, but he shot over.

Brad Ash headed over shortly after, following a Stearn cross, before Mann shot wide from his third opportunity in the early stages.

The frenetic start continued as Concord’s Sam Blackman drilled straight at Will Puddy inside the opening 20 minutes.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, Stearn’s ball into the box found Mann, but his close-range shot was blocked by Haigh.

Despite the excellent start by Chippenham, it was Concord who took the lead five minutes before the interval with a breakaway goal by Temi Babalola.

Aaron Pollock carried the ball up field from a Chippenham corner before finding Lamar Reynolds who squared the ball to Babalola to tap home.

The Bluebirds came out from the break with purpose though and almost equalised when Ask took advantage of a defensive error.

However, he dragged his shot wide as frustration grew for the visitors.

That frustration would not last long however as Stearn squeezed the equaliser in just past the hour mark.

With their tails up, Chippenham set about trying to win the game, and they came close when Ash’s shot struck the post with 20 minutes to play.

However, there would not be consecutive FA Cup first-round appearances for Chippenham as Concord hit the winner in the ninth minute of stoppage time through substitute Green.

Meanwhile, Chippenham made it back-to-back defeats following a 2-1 loss to National League South leaders, Dartford on Tuesday night.

Joe Hanks had equalised for Town following Moussa Bakayoko’s opener, however, another late goal, this time from Tom Bonner, gave Dartford all three points.