Basford United beat Halesowen Town 5-3 on penalties, following a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes and head into the First Round Proper of the FA Youth Cup for the second successive season.

They started strongly, and crafted the first real effort of the game, as Kiarn Nyemba was played through, but his effort was palmed away and into the side netting by Halesowen keeper Noah Jones.

Harvey Ridgely also came very close for the home side as his brilliant effort from outside the box flew just over the crossbar as the Ambers secured a succession of corners which came to little.

The game slowed down somewhat and turned into a midfield battle with Basford still dominant in possession however tactically adapting to the game, taking a less direct approach in their attacking build up.

Their best effort of an otherwise mediocre first half fell to Lewis Rourke who had the goal gaping and looked to have fired Basford in front but ‘keeper Jones produced a show-stopping save down low to deny the striker.

Rourke and Nathaniel Peters both came close to giving the home side the lead in the second half, only fine margins denying them both. Josh Timson also had an opening; his effort parried away by Jones.

The opening goal finally came soon after on 56 minutes. Jordan Haywood’s lethal cross found the head of Rourke who glanced a header inside the far post for a deserved opener.

Only minutes later, Basford were awarded a penalty as Zakir Islam tripped Peters from behind; captain Haywood was the man to fire emphatically into the bottom left corner, doubling Basford’s lead from twelve yards.

Basford continued to search for more goals showing real attacking intent, chances falling for Peters, Rourke and Timson, to name a few. The home side certainly weren’t wanting to rest on their laurels as they looked to progress.

Against the run of play, West Midlands’ Halesowen scored when substitute Jack Fletcher was on hand to stab the ball over the line.

Rourke came close to settling any nerves and put the game beyond doubt when a long ball forward saw the forward through one-on-one, only for Jones to make an excellent save down low.

There was action at the other end as the Ambers’ looked to have conceded a penalty following a brilliant save by Gianni Musson as a Town player was fouled. After consulting with his linesman, however, the referee awarded a set piece following an offside in the build-up.

Late on, Halesowen found an equaliser through Papy Brandon-Mussini who fired in from close range, after Musson pulled off a superb save to deny Fletcher and a shoot-out was forced.

Musson guessed right to save Town’s first from Izyri Kouruyianni after Haywood put United in front.

Each penalty thereafter was put away, and it was left to Rourke to send Jones the wrong way and confirm United’s name in the hat for Friday’s draw.

UNITED (from): Musson, Ridgley, Nicholson, Suban, Frogson, Haywood, Harrison, Peters, Nyemba, Rourke, Timson, Abdullah, Dacres, Bull, Newell, Camm, Gullett, Bonner

ATTENDANCE: 165