Bourne Town are beaten by Rugby Borough in the United Counties League Cup

A fifth successive defeat saw Bourne Town's run in the United Counties League Cup come to an end in Saturday's quarter-final clash at Rugby Borough.

A late equaliser from Brad Marshall had taken the last eight tie to penalties where their Premier Division South hosts ran out 5-3 winners on spot kicks.

It ended Bourne's four-pronged quest for success this season as they finished their February matches with another defeat after previous losses to Lincoln United, Heanor Town, Kimberley Miners Welfare and Skegness.

Boss Michal Goode said: "It's been a bad February for us.

"We were looking for a performance and, like the past four games, we played well in patches.

"We have conceded some poor goals though and we've also had periods of play which haven't been good enough but nothing is really rolling for us at the moment.

"That is football though. It's what happens and there's no rhyme or reason to it.

"Confidence is a fine thing in football. When you're flying and everything is going well for you then things seem to run because we could have easily got something out of the last four games."

Bourne began brightly on the 3G surface at the Nationwide Windows Arena with Robbie Ellis going close after a goalmouth scramble.

Ellis then sent a header straight at the home custodian from a corner before Borough broke the deadlock after 15 minutes when Thabang Dube fired home a low finish.

Bourne looked for a response and Ellis hit the crossbar in the closest the Wakes came to finding an equaliser before the break.

The game maintained its status quo for large parts of the second half with Bourne bringing on a flurry of substitutes to add extra impetus to their game.

They peppered the Rugby goal with a series of set pieces which eventually bore fruit in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Goalkeeper Dan Swan had gone up for the corner and his presence helped force the ball into the path of Marshall who bundled the ball home at the back post.

It took the ties to penalties where Ellis and Will Bird both scored Bourne's opening two penalties to match Rugby's efforts.

The hosts added a third before Henry Dunn saw his penalty saved which allowed Rugby to seize the initiative despite Jack Wilson scoring for Bourne.

Borough converted all five of their spot kicks to move into the semi-finals where they face a trip to Eynesbury Rovers.

Goode added: "We had good intensity in patches and created lots of chances but things are just not falling for us in the box.

"We have been conceding first in all of those defeats and it takes its toll on you because you're then on the back foot.

"It allows other teams to re-shape and we haven't been used to it.

"We've always responded after the goals. We showed a bit of spirit and fight to come back but Rugby are a good side on their own surface.

"There were periods in the game where we weren't good enough collectively as a team and some individuals were below the levels and standards that they've set themselves this season."

Bourne's Lincolnshire Senior Trophy final against Lincoln United has been arranged for Wednesday, April 9, at Boston United's Jakemans Community Stadium.