Wingate & Finchley suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Kingstonian in the Ryman League Cup semi-final, losing a penalty shoot-out with forward Rob Laney between the sticks.

The Blues found themselves behind within seconds of the kick-off as Andre McCollin struck, but they levelled after 10 minutes, with debutant Freddie Moncur following up after Laney had been denied.

McCollin scored again four minutes later with a 25-yard free kick, and Wingate then lost their goalkeeper as Bobby Smith was stretchered off following a collision with the Kingstonian man.

With no reserve keeper on the bench, Laney took the gloves – but the action was largely at the other end in the second half.

Karl Oliyide saw a shot blocked six yards out before Billy Healey equalised to make it 2-2 from a Karl Stevenson cross, and Wingate then went in search of a winner.

Karl Oliyide curled a shot narrowly wide and Healey headed at Rob Tolfrey after cross from Stevenson, who sent a dipping strike just past the post before Healey went close again.

In the end, penalties were needed to separate the sides and, although Laney got close to three of Kingstonian’s four spot-kicks, he was unable to keep them out, while Wingate missed two of their four efforts to lose 4-2.

Laney said: “I think the boys were absolutely fantastic. Apart from the two sloppy goals at the beginning I thought we absolutely dominated the game.

“I missed a penalty, I’m gutted about that, and I should probably have saved two. Overall I don’t think the boys are too disheartened because we played really well and we can hold our heads up high.”