AT THE END of a turbulent week at Farnborough an FA Trophy victory over Windsor and Eton would have lifted the mood at Cherrywood Road.

But despite dominating the game for long periods they were left to rue missed opportunities and some slack defending as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat.

In truth the game could have been over at half time, as Boro overran the visitors with a vibrant passing display, but failed to convert some good chances.

After the break they lost their way, despite a goal from Ray Spence who was restored to the starting line up, and fell foul to a classic away display from Windsor, who scored three breakaway goals to progress to the next round.

Boro boss Andy Clement was furious with his side, slamming them for their sloppy second half performance and lack of killer instinct in front of goal, which he felt has cost them a great opportunity for some cup glory.

He said: “It just wasn’t good enough in the second half. There was no spark and it was flat out there.

“But we have missed a great opportunity for a bit of success, we are out and that is that for the season."

Boro made five expected changes from the side that lost on penalties to Godalming on Tuesday night, with Leigh Rumbold, skipper Dave Woozley, keeper Lyall Beazley and wing-back Sam Carter returning.

Up front Spence made his comeback after settling his differences with Clement last week.

The first half saw Boro completely in the ascendancy, doing everything except putting the ball in the net.

After just five minutes Spence almost celebrated his return to the side with a goal when Carter played him in and his low shot was turned brilliantly round the post.

Striker Neville Roach tested the Windsor keeper Sam Mazurek on two occasions, heading straight at him and moments later drilling a low strike that was just tipped away.

Windsor were penned in their own half, and on the half hour Spence’s individual brilliance, twisting on the edge of the area and clipping a chip over the keeper and onto the bar, almost gave them a deserved lead.

The second half started in similar style but Boro were stunned on 53 minutes when Windsor broke up-field.

Carter attempted to make a tackle but the ball bobbled through to Windsor striker Michael Chennels, and he drilled his shot under the diving Beazley.

Boro struggled to regroup and they could have been fallen further behind when Nathan Bailey’s loose pass was seized upon by Ben Porter, but he greedily shot at goal when he had two players well placed in support.

That stirred Boro into action, and they levelled the scores after 68 minutes, when Ciardini picked out Spence, and the striker came alive as he beat two players and clipped the ball past the despairing Mazurek.

With the home fans now expecting Boro to go on and win it they were silenced just three minutes later, when Chennels controlled the ball on his knee, swivelled and lashed a thumping volley into the top corner to give the visitors the lead again.

That proved to be the killer blow, and as Boro searched for another equaliser, they were caught out again in the 81st minute.

Beazley punched clear a corner, but Boro were slow to react and allowed Terry O’Connor to measure a cross back into the area which substitute Will Dunlop, who entered the fray just 30 seconds earlier, powerfully headed home to seal the game.

See Tuesday's Farnborough Mail for full match report and Andy Clement's reaction to the defeat.