Hopes of a money-spinning FA Cup first round trip to Plymouth Argyle were dashed as Spalding United crashed out of the competition on Tuesday in Worcestershire.
A 4-0 replay defeat at Southern League side Alvechurch brought the Tulips’ run to an end after they had been hauled back to draw the original tie 2-2 at the Sir Halley Stewart Field.
Early appeals for a penalty were waved away after Dan Barton was tripped by goalkeeper Redman Evans and the shot stopper also kept out an effort from Bart Cybulski.
Spalding were dealt a blow when Saturday’s double goal scorer Dan Jarvis went off injured after 25 minutes.
Alvechurch took immediate advantage when Danny Newton put them ahead within a minute.
Substitute Mane Sani fired into the side-netting before the hosts doubled their lead with a stunning free-kick from Jamey Osborne.
Hopes of a second-half recovery were extinguished within four minutes of the restart when Newton got his second and salt was rubbed into the visitors’ wounds when Miracle Okafor made it 4-0 after 57 minutes just before Cybulski had a penalty kick saved by Evans as the Tulips night went from bad to worse.
Alfie Bendle came close to a late consolation but his effort was saved and it is the lower-level hosts who head to Devon with an extra £9,375 in their pocket.
For the Tulips, their only consolation is that their earlier dismissals of Hanley Town and Bury Town plus their beaten fourth qualifying round payment, leaves them £12,125 better off in prize money.
Spalding had let a 2-0 lead slip on Saturday, conceding twice in the closing stages after Jarvis had struck twice.
Barton raided down the right win before pulling the ball back for Jarvis to score from the edge of the penalty area with his left foot after 19 minutes.
His second came from his right foot after a defence-splitting pass from Ben Fowkes sent him through to round the goalkeeper on the hour-mark.
Okafor pulled one back for the visitors and then held his nerve to convert a penalty in the second minute of stoppage time to earn the replay.
Tulips manager Jimmy Dean admitted the visitors deserved a second chance after their battling display but felt his team should have been more clinical to have earned a bigger lead.
“It was a pretty even first half and they probably had the better attempts on goal and hit the woodwork a couple of times,” he said.
“We took out goal really well but a couple of other opportunities we didn’t take. There are things we need to do better.
“We got another and probably should have had a couple more in that period.
“We looked fit and looked strong but a sleepy moment and a bad decision by the referee cost us.”
Double goal scorer Jarvis added: “It was tough emotionally to concede in the last minute. I thought we did well at times it was just really frustrating in the last 15 minutes.”
Tulips (v Alvechurch, home): Crook, Kelly, Johnson, Cybulski, Barton, Jarvis (Sani), Fox, Fowkes, Byrne, Straughan-Brown (Bendle), Sembie-Ferris. Subs: Wilks, Rose, Vaughan, Betteka, Abbey.
Attendance: 991.
Tulips (v Alvechurch, away): Crook, Johnson, Cybulski, Rose, Barton (Abbey), Jarvis (Sani), Fox, Fowkes (Betteka), Byrne, Straughan-Brown (Bendle), Sembie-Ferris (Grant). Subs: Wilks, Vaughan.
Attendance: 591.
