Crusaders were knocked out of Europe in dramatic fashion by Caernarfon Town after extra time and penalties at Seaview.
Down 3-0 on aggregate at half time, the Crues looked to have surrendered meekly but a superb second half display put the rescue mission back on track, only for the Welsh side to win on penalty kicks.
The Crues made two changes to the side that lost 2-0 in the first leg as Adam Lecky and Stewart Nixon replaced Ben Kennedy and Jordan Stewart.
That defeat caught Crusaders cold as Caernarfon were fit and fired up to make the most of their first appearance in European competition, and this return leg was no different in the first half.
Jacob Blaney and Louis Lloyd suffered a clash of heads in an aerial challenge on 11 minutes that left both players floored and requiring attention, eventually returning to the fray sporting head bandages.
In the meantime, Caernarfon dominated proceedings, playing with the same zip and vigour that carried them to victory in the first leg.
Lloyd came back on and he ran in behind the Crues defence on 24 minutes to square the ball with pace across the face of goal, only to be intercepted by Daniel Larmour.
But from the corner, skipper Darren Thomas fired deep and, as Crusaders failed to clear their lines, Paulo Mendes leapt athletically near the back post to smash past Jonathan Tuffey into the roof of the net.
The Belfast team began to stir from their slumber on the half hour mark with Lewis Barr advancing to play a deft ball to the back post where Stephen McMullan plucked it out of the air to avert the danger.
The former Warrenpoint keeper then pulled off a fine double save to deny Blaney and Ross Clarke, following which the 19-year-old defender went down holding the head bandage and had to be replaced with Jordan Forsythe.
Thomas turned neatly to shoot from 20 yards out four minutes before the break but the effort rose steadily over the bar.
Crusaders were disjointed, sluggish and not sharp enough in the opening 45 minutes, and Declan Caddell brought Kennedy on for Nixon at half time and whatever he said at half time had an immediate impact.
The Hatchetmen won a free kick 40 yards out near the left flank and Clarke whipped in a delightful, teasing ball. McMullan was in two minds with one eye on advancing players and the ball slipped past him into the net.
It was time for Caernarfon to be rocked back on their heels and Crusaders followed it up with another goal three minutes later from a corner on the right.
Clarke turned provider this time, swinging the ball in deep for Larmour to head firmly past McMullan into the back of the net from ten yards.
The home side had their tails up now, streamed forward in numbers and, after Zack Clarke arrowed wide on the counter attack on 67 minutes, broke Caernarfon down for the third time on this balmy evening.
James Teelan replaced Clarke on 69 minutes and three minutes later he took a quick throw in to play the ball down the right channel where Lowry ran on to it, chested and smashed home from eight yards with Lecky in close attendance.
Kennedy pulled a shot wide before the tie went into extra time and with just two minutes remaining the Crues seemed to be denied a clear penalty when Ryan Sears looked to handle a Boyd cross at the back post with Owens ready to pounce.
So into the shootout, where Kennedy, Forsythe, Larmour, Jay Boyd, Teelan, Jarlath O’Rourke and Lowry all scored, as did all of the Welsh contingent to that point, and even when Lewis Barr had his effort denied by McMullan, Tuffey did likewise to Gruffydd John’s to keep the hosts alive.
But second time around they wouldn’t be so lucky. Jordan Owens was also denied by the magnificent McMullan and this time there was no reprieve, Mark Williams slotting home to send the Caernarfon fans behind the net wild as they shattered the Crues’ European dream.
Crusaders: Tuffey, Weir, Lowry, Lecky (Owens 78), Blaney (Forsythe 35), O’Rourke, Offord (Boyd 78), Larmour, R Clarke (Teelan 69), Nixon (Kennedy 45), Barr.
Subs not used: Kerr, Stewart, Vance, Donnelly, James.
Caernarfon Town: McMullan, Owen, John, Mooney (Downey 102), Z Clarke, Gosset, D Thomas (Williams 102), Hill (Faux 55), Mendes, Lloyd (Evans 102), Sears.
Subs not used: H Thomas, Pritchard, Jones.
Referee: Heini Vidoy (France)
Man of the Match: Robbie Weir