It ended 2-2 at full time with all three goals in the first half, with Tom Pope grabbing a brace for the visitors and two Amber goals from Tyrell Waite and Rev James leaving it level at the final whistle. A super performance from Saul Deeney in the shootout was enough to put the Ambers through after a tumultous encounter at the Avenue.

It wasn’t a good start for the Ambers as they were almost took by surprise by Hanley Town’s early aggression. Pope’s header smashed the bar to give them an early scare, and as the defencee struggled to clear their lines, the ball fell to Pope again who made no mistake on his second attempt to give the visitors the lead in the 4th minute.

The pace of the game didn’t slow down and the next big chance fell to the Ambers. A shot from Tyrell Waite took a deflection that saw the ball fall neatly at the edge of the area at the feet of James, whose neat finish gave Adam Whitehouse no chance as Basford levelled the game in the 13th minute.

Still shaken from the early setback, the Ambers didn’t stop pushing to get the game firmly back in their control, and it didn’t take long for them to get it. Joe Uvegas’ rampaging run down the left forced Whitehouse into a brilliant save one on one, but the former was the one who received the ball again and he was able to cutback to Waite who had an easy finish in the 19th minute to give the Ambers the advantage at the Avenue.

While Basford saw most of the ball, the threat from Hanley didn’t dissapear and Pope continued to cause them issues. Good work from him eventually saw him play in Will Igoe who was able to wriggle his way through the Amber backline. Josh Barnes eventually was judged to have brought him down and a penalty was awarded to the visitors. Pope stepped up and slotted it past Saul Deeney for his brace in the 32nd minute.

There was no sign of the pace slowing down as both teams looked likely to put themselves ahead. Igoe came the closest as he received the ball unmarked in the box just before the break, but fired his shot well over. The interval came with the game very much in the balance.
Basford began the opening periods of the second half throwing everything at the game, but Hanley remained resolute and the Ambers struggled to find a way through despite long periods spent in the opposing box.

With time ticking on it became a scrappy affair as the action went end to end, albeit without any sight of a clear chance. Frustrations grew as neither team could muster a crucial moment, and full time rang out with the tie to be decided on spot kicks.

Prince Mancinelli, Mckeal Abdullah and James were perfect with their attempts, while Deeney brilliantly saved Hanley’s first two to give the Ambers a huge advantage. Barnes had the chance to put Basford through which he made no mistake with, putting the Ambers through to the next round.

MOTM: Prince Mancinelli

ATT: 132

STARTING XI: Saul Deeney, Taylor Anderson, Henri Wilder ©, Prince Mancinelli, Nelson Aideyan (McKeal Abdullah, 46’), Stern Irvine (Harvey Ridgley, 32’), Rev James, Josh Barnes, Tyrell Waite (Dameer Rose, 68’), Joe Uvegas (Saikou Brown, 77’), Kane Richards

SUBS (not used): Harvey Woodward