MAKESHIFT goalkeeper Marcus Browning joked his worst nightmare had been realised when a second-half injury to Chris Tardif saw the midfielder don the gloves for the second time in his career in Cherries' Worthington Cup penalty-shoot out defeat by Brentford.

With first choice stopper Gareth Stewart and loan signing Jamie Ashdown both on the casualty list, Sean O'Driscoll's keeper crisis took another turn for the worst when Tardif sustained a facial injury after colliding with Leon Constantine 64 minutes into the enthralling encounter at Dean Court last night.

Despite the Portsmouth-loanee initially looking as though he may be able to continue, Cherries physio Jim Marshall soon ruled that the 22-year-old would actually need to be replaced.

And with no other goalkeepers available to O'Driscoll, Browning stepped forward to face a total of 56 minutes of visiting attacks before having the unenviable task of trying to keep out five Bees penalties.

The 31-year-old former Gillingham and Bristol Rovers star previously deputised in goal for 80 minutes during Huddersfield's 1-0 defeat at Bury in August 1998.

But Browning, who was actually one of Cherries' designated penalty takers, admitted nothing could have prepared him for a shoot-out.

He said: "When Chris got back up again I thought he was alright. Jim had signalled to say he was finished and then he jumped back up and we thought he was alright and then the next thing, I'm there with the gloves on again.

"All credit to the lads in front of me who did ever so well defensively. They kept them upfield, kept them out of the way and left me with very little to do. The one good save I did make, I saw it coming early so I managed to get my hand to it and flick it over the bar.

"But I had no chance with the goal, I saw it really late and swished my hand at it but it just went firing past me into the top corner, there wasn't a lot I could do. The penalty shoot-out was a new one for me! I'm not a goalkeeper, I didn't know whether to come off my line or not. I had to ask Tards what do, and he told me to do whatever I wanted so I had to rely on my instinct."

Browning took over from Tardif with the score at 3-2 after Cherries had twice taken a first-half lead against their Division Two opponents.

Browning himself opened the scoring in the third minute before Kevin O'Connor hit back from the penalty spot three minutes later.

Man-of-the-moment Alan Connell grabbed his third goal in as many games on the quarter-hour mark and, despite Wade Elliott also missing a penalty, Danny Thomas' exquisite volley made it three at the break.

O'Connor reduced the deficit again from the spot 12 minutes after the restart while Browning was powerless to stop Rowan Vine's 72-minute leveller.

With the score still 3-3 after extra-time, O'Driscoll's side missed their chance to progress in this year's competition as firstly Carl Fletcher and then James Hayter were denied by Paul Smith.

O'Driscoll said: "We can talk about misfortune and having no goalkeeper on the bench, which is down to finance, but Bury on Saturday is the most important thing now.

"Jamie comes back on Thursday with a view to being involved but we think he's probably not going to be ready.

"Jamie thinks he might be so we'll have to wait and see."