LYE Town suffered the heartbreak of losing out 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out last night against Birmingham City's Development Squad following a close fought Birmingham Senior Cup tie.

Chairman Brian Blakemore admitted: "We were lucky to get the game on in the first place but thankfully the weather forecast was wrong. The pitch held up really well.

"But no sooner had the referee blown his final whistle, it started to pour down as though it was some divine intervention.

"It was a tight, competitive but goalless game without many chances played in front of a bigger than usual crowd.

"Blues claimed afterwards that we had given them a really good workout and they proved to be extremely pleasant people."

Lye now look to get their Midland Football League campaign back on track following last Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to Hereford side Westfields.

Lye led 1-0 at the break through a James Spray goal but Brian Blakemore admitted: "Westfield hardly posed a threat early on, but they picked up in the second while we appeared to do the opposite."

Lye face a tricky trip to high-flying Derbyshire side Heanor Town on Saturday.

Kevin Nickle is suspended for the game while Scott Gennard, Jack Pearlman and Dan Jones remain on the injury list but Dan Flowers should return to duty.