BRADFORD'S Joe Cullen suffered an agonising semi-final exit in the UniBet European Championship in Dortmund tonight.

The Wyke ace missed a match dart to beat Simon Whitlock, who came from 10-7 down to win the last four legs and triumph 11-10.

Having trailed 3-0, Cullen fought back to take the lead for the first time at 5-4. The match remained nip and tuck before the 'Rockstar' from Bradford looked to be heading for the final.

But he failed to convert a 96 as the Australian landed a double 16 to break and make it 10-9. He then forced a decider before a 110 saw him complete the fightback.

Cullen had earlier produced a brilliant fightback from 6-1 down to reach his first televised semi-final with a 10-8 defeat of world champion Rob Cross.

Cross, last year's runner-up, looked set to cruise into the last four as he dominated the early stages, taking out a 112 finish in the process.

Cullen, though, began to claw his way back with four successive legs, capitalised on a missed double seven from Cross to level and then took out 111 to move ahead at 7-6.

He also finished double 16 to claim a seventh successive leg to move two clear at 8-6, and though Cross took two of the next three to stay in the hunt, double top sealed Cullen's semi-final spot.

"You're fearing the worst at 6-1 but I felt that I had to stick in there," admitted Cullen. "I knew that Rob wasn't playing well even though he was 6-1 up.

"It was a game of two halves, as the scorelines suggested, and the 111 was massive in the context of the match.

"I've been giving myself the chances in recent weeks but not been taking them. I believe in myself but I'm not going to get ahead of myself."