Pieman Eaten Up

Last updated : 24 December 2008 By Ziad Chaudhry

Warwickshire's interest in this year's Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championships ended when Studley's Pie Man Andy Smith was also a first round casualty.

A few days after Coventry's Steve Beaton waved goodbye to Alexander Palace, Smith also followed yesterday afternoon in a match that went right down to the final throw.

His opponent qualifier Tony Ayres snatched victory after 41-year-old Smith, a West Brom fan, squandered on a double top finish.

Crawley-based Ayres capitalised and completed a 3 legs to 2 victory with a double 4to set up a second round meeting with Stoke's Andy Hamilton.

Despite the defeat, Smith did have his moments in the fourth set when he hit a fantastic 155 checkout.