Horsham suffered penalty heartbreak on an evening of high cup drama in the West Country last night.

Gary Charman's fabulous first half strike was enough to set them dreaming of a home tie with Mansfield in the first round proper of the FA Cup.

Matt Lewis levelled before the break and, though Team Bath were reduced to ten men, neither side could grab victory until defenders Eddie French and John Kirby had shots saved by Ryan Northmore in the shoot-out.

It was desperately cruel on the Hornets duo, who were superb in both matches, and meant Ian Chatfield's spot stop from Peter Tisdale counted for nothing.

Kirby was distraught at the end as home fans charged on to the pitch to salute their history making side.

Bath University's pristine sports campus had never seen anything like it.

The surroundings had initially seemed uninspiring although Horsham players familiar with their local sports centre at Broadbridge Heath would have felt at home.

Fans were separated from the immaculate pitch by a running track, with those opting for the vantage point of a raised terraced area having to peer 30 yards to see the nearest action.

There was a lively crowd in by kick off and they had plenty to cheer in an enthralling first half.

The highlight, which got Horsham ahead, was Charman's fabulous strike, a right foot shot from 25 yards which moved in the air and left goalkeeper Northmore helpless.

Team Bath had a few half chances, with Giuseppe Sorvara heading the best of them at Chatfield after just four minutes, but the visitors really should have been in charge on the half hour.

French won possession, Lee Carney led the counter attack and his through ball sent Gavin Geddes bearing down on goal, only to side-foot horribly wide with just Northmore to beat.

Seven minutes later the hosts were level, the danger coming from left winger Lee Prince, who was always a threat.

Prince cut inside Andy Salako and teed up Sorvara, whose shot was blocked by James Bird in front of goal, only for Lewis to fire home the rebound.

Chatfield had no chance with that but he saved Horsham twice in the second half, brilliantly pushing over a Bertrand Cozic header and clutching a deflected Barry Lavety free kick.

The hosts were down to ten men on 67 minutes when defender Alex Ball saw red for tripping the goalbound Dave Flemming.

James Grant twice shot a yard wide but it was the hosts who should have gone ahead early in extra time when Lavety headed against the bar from close in.

John Kirby also blocked a goalbound header but there were half chances too at the other end, notably when Grant chipped a free kick just over.

Team Bath: Northmore, Watson, Wisson, Nichols, Tisdale, Ball, M. Lewis (C. Lewis 82), Cozic, Lavety (Heiniger 99), Sorbara (Kamara-Taylor 69), Prince. Subs: Gibson, Otto. Red card: Ball (professional foul).

Horsham: Chatfield, Salako, Bird, French, Kirby, Carney (Collins 78), Butcher, Payne (Grant 45), Geddes, Flemming, Charman. subs: Castrechino, Worsfold, Sebuliba. Yellow cards: Salako, Grant, Charman.

Referee: Roger East. Attendance: 1,581. Men-of-the-Match: Prince (Team Bath) and Kirby (Horsham).