Cleethorpes Town suffered penalty shoot out heartache in the quarter final of the Lincolnshire FA Senior Trophy, losing 4-3 to Barton Town Old Boys after the sides had played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Bradley.

Although debutant goalkeeper David Birch made a great fingertip save to keep out one Barton penalty, Clee were ultimately knocked out after Peter Winn’s spot kick hit the post and Marc Cooper’s effort was saved.

The Owls began the game brightly and Brody Robertson was thwarted by Barton goalkeeper Ryan Ramsden as early as the second minute, the keeper diving full length to his right to push the ball away from danger. Robertson was soon on the scoresheet though, racing onto Luke Mascall’s through ball before finding the net with a well struck shot that gave Ramsden no chance.

Birch raced quickly out of his goal to deny Barton’s Danny Chambers just seconds later before Henry Gill's’s effort was well blocked by the Owls Liam Dickens.

The visitors however, did manage to draw level after 21 minutes when striker Chambers latched onto a long ball over the Owls defence before picking his spot and coolly lobbing over Birch.

Barton were only level for two minutes though as Cleethorpes’ leading scorer Cooper found himself completely unmarked inside the penalty area to slot home.

The Owls could have increased their lead moments later as first Robertson and then Mascall were denied by Ramsden.

Barton threatened again as Alex Sherwood’s long range header was comfortably saved by Birch. On the stroke of half time Mascall shot just wide for Cleethorpes after a quick break out of defence caught Barton napping.

The visitors had a couple of shots at the start of the second half that both flew high and wide before the second equaliser arrived with 50 minutes played. The ball pinged around in the penalty area before Lee Fisher fired home past a stranded Birch.

Cleethorpes pushed forward looking for the winner and missed numerous chances to clinch the tie. Dickens close range effort was somehow pushed over the bar by Ramsden before Louis Grant sliced horribly wide after some lovely build up play. Mascall’s shot from the edge of the box was well saved before Cooper was crowded out as he looked to pounce on the rebound.

Jon Oglesby and Cooper both put efforts just wide before arguably the miss of the match as Darren Hanslip somehow shot wide from two yards out with the goal at his mercy.

Barton’s Sherwood hit a dipping shot that went just over before the referee blew for full time to send the match to a penalty shoot out which ended with Barton progressing to meet either Lincoln Moorlands or Winterton Rangers in the semi final.

Cleethorpes will look to put the disappointment of their cup exit behind them on Saturday with a return to Toolstation Northern Counties East League action and a mouthwatering clash at top of the table Worksop Town. Kick off will be at 3pm.