HOTSHOT striker James Hancocks says his Herefordshire & District School’s team will try and come back stronger next year after agonisingly missing out on a final appearance at Coventry City’s Ricoh Arena.

The under-15 side lost a dramatic penalty shoot-out against Aldershot & Farnborough Schools in the semi-final of the Playstation Inter Association Trophy.

Herefordshire & District remarkably scored three goals in an astonishing last 10 minutes to level the game at Hereford Academy after Aldershot & Farnborough stormed into a 3-0 lead.

But it was the Hampshire side who were celebrating at the end after winning the penalty shoot-out 3-1.

“The aim now is to come back next year and try and get to the final because we know we are good enough,” said Hancocks.

“I thought they were by far the better team in the first half, but in the second half we sort of got into it.

“I thought we dominated extra-time and deserved the win but we didn’t get the goal and it went to penalties, which is anybody’s.”

Bishops pupil Hancocks has formed a lethal partnership with Kingstone High School’s Greg Preece and both scored in every round of the competition.

“It started at Cheltenham and we have kept going,” said Hancocks.

“We’ve got very a good partnership up front."

Aldershot & Farnborough had a great chance to open the scoring in the 10th minute, but Adam Liddle’s rasping drive was brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by George Tindale.

But Liddle did find the net four minutes later when he lobbed Tindale from the edge of the area.

Herefordshire had chances in the first half, but found it difficult to truly test Myles Bowman in the Aldershot & Farnborough goal. But they quickly came out of the blocks in the second half, with Preece and Dan Pugh both going close.

However, the visitors extended their lead after 56 minutes thanks to Jake Wilson. Referee Ryan McIlravey had to book a number of players as tackles went flying in, with tempers threatening to boil over at one stage.

When Freddie Maddock made it 3-0 from close range, it looked game over for Herefordshire & District.

But Hancocks gave them a lifeline 10 minutes from time by stabbing the ball home before scoring again seven minutes later.

An amazing comeback was completed in stoppage time when Preece converted a penalty that he won.

“I just had to keep my nerve and stuck it in the bottom corner,” said Preece.

Neither team could find the breakthrough in extra-time and the tie went to penalties. But Preece saw his effort saved before Harry Franklin blazed his over the bar. The visitors expertly scored their first two, before Wilf Munn scored for Herefordshire & District.

Ethan Sears then netted for Aldershot & Farnborough, meaning Dan Pugh had to score. Bowman was up for the task though, resulting in Herefordshire & District crashing out in heartbreaking fashion.

“We were gutted to lose on penalties because I didn’t think we deserved to lose it,” said Preece.

“But we showed what we can do and the comeback was amazing."