A GREAT comeback just came up short as Mark Webster departed the StanJames.com World Matchplay in Blackpool last night (Wednesday).

The Denbigh darts ace lost his second round clash with Co Stompe 13-9.
 

Stompe followed up his gritty opening win over Andy Hamilton with a free-flowing display to see off the Welshman, leading 7-2 and 10-3 before Webster hit back to ensure a nervy ending.
 

Webster paid for four missed doubles in the first leg as Stompe took out 96 for an early blow, only for the left-hander to finish double 12 in the next and take out 91 to lead 2-1.
 

That was bettered by a 127 bullseye finish from Stompe as he levelled, before hitting a 180 in regaining the advantage.
 

A pair of double top finishes put Stompe 5-2 up, before double 12 and double ten moved him five legs clear before a clutch of misses in the tenth allowed Webster in on tops to pull back to 7-3.
 

However, Stompe continued to make the Denbighshire player pay for a below-par display as he won the next three without reply in taking a 10-3 cushion.
 

A double top finish saw Webster win a fourth leg before he took out 90 and 122 on the bullseye in the next two legs to speak a comeback.
 

Stompe moved 11-6 up on double 16, but Webster then won the next two, after misses from his opponent, in pulling back to three legs behind.
 

He also landed a maximum in the next, but a missed double top proved costly as Stompe landed double six to go a leg away from the win.
 

Webster hit the same bed to keep the match alive in the next leg, but he could do nothing as Stompe finished 87 on the bull to win a quarter-final spot.
 

"Mark didn't turn up until halfway through the match and I started messing things up too," admitted Stompe afterwards. "When I went 8-3 up I started thinking about the win and I knew that I only needed to win three of the next ten legs, and I can't believe I did that.
 

"I started to struggle and Mark found some good finishes but I won and I'm happy with that."
 

Stompe faces fellow Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld in the quarter-finals, and he added: "Before the tournament I looked at the draw and wanted to get through to play Raymond in the quarter-finals.
 

"We've only played once on TV before, when he hammered me in Las Vegas, but Friday will be different.
 

"Against Andy Hamilton and Mark Webster I never knew what I was up against because you don't know which player is going to turn up, but against Raymond you know you have to play, and if you don't he will thrash you."