Division rivals Plymouth Parkway snatched a 2-1 win in extra time to progress

The FA Cup dream for Berkhamsted came crashing down courtesy of two dodgy penalty decisions against them, gifting Plymouth Parkway a spot in the second round to face Barnet.

Referee Ross Martin twice pointed to the spot to award hosts Parkway the opportunity to net from 12 yards, with both decisions looking soft on reflection.

Andrew Neal netted both spot-kicks, one in the second-half and one in the first-half of extra time, to cruelly deny Chris Devane’s Comrades, who had deservedly led through Luke Andrews’ 47th minute opener.

His excellent finish came after a neat pass from JJ Lacey, coolly slotting past Aaron Dearing barely had the second-half kicked-off.

Ryan Blake put wide a great chance to put Berkhamsted further ahead with 20 minutes to go, and it proved a pivotal moment as just a minute later, Plymouth were awarded a spotkick.

Keeper Hubert Graczyk came to punch a ball clear, colliding with striker Neal after the fact, but referee Martin pointed to the spot, with Neal dusting himself down to convert the equaliser.

Both sides had chances to win it before normal time was over, with Parkway striker Reece Thomson seeing two good efforts off target.

It forced the tie into extra time, and it would be another soft decision which ultimately led to the second and decisive penalty in the 105th minute.

Parkway’s Mikey Williams burst into the box and had his shirt pulled by substitute Godlove Oppong, sending him dramatically tumbling to the deck.

Neal stuck his penalty away again to all-but-end Berkhamsted’s chances.

Try as they might, the visitors came close to snatching a late equaliser and forcing a shoot-out when Max Rosner curled one wide with five minutes to go, ending their historic cup run.

“It's gutting,” said Devane afterwards. “I'm really happy for Plymouth, really good people down here. It's their day in the sun today.

“But we're really disappointed with the decisions, especially the first one, I felt we were in control at the time.

“We just had a really good opportunity and 65 seconds later he gave that penalty and it changed the whole game.

“It's hard not to feel really disappointed when you get a bad decision, but I'm really proud of the lads and the journey they've been on.”

It was the first time either side had ever reached the FA Cup first round, both hailing from the seventh tier Southern League Premier Division South. A date with League Two side Barnet at home was in the offing for the winner