Albion Sports 0 Avro 0 (aet – 2-4 pens)

Michael Afuye finally broke Albion Sports’ resistance and made history in the process as his successful spot kick sealed a 4-2 victory in the penalty shoot after another 120 minutes without a goal in this FA Cup Preliminary Round replay.

Manager Alex Frost made three changes from the first encounter between the two sides, with Kyle Harrop and Tommy Lent replacing Geffry Ebhote and Sam Rathbone in defence, and Liam Ellis coming in for Afuye.

The visitors had the better of the first half, but were kept at bay by several last ditch clearances from the home defence and more brilliance from Sports keeper George McMahon, who made a superb stop to keep out a Kane Wallwork piledriver which looked destined to break the deadlock. 

After the interval the atmosphere on a bumpy and uneven pitch became increasingly tetchy, and chances were few and far between. However, in the last few minutes Wallwork rattled the woodwork with another wonderful free kick, just as he had done the previous Saturday, and history also repeated itself in injury time when Joe Rathbone thought he had won the tie, only for the assistant referee’s flag for offside to cut short the celebrations.

Another half hour was duly played out without either side making the decisive breakthrough, and when Rathbone volleyed over from close range right at the death after a brilliant run and cross by Afuye, it felt like it might be one of those nights. That sense of unease grew stronger when Liam Ellis missed the first penalty of the shoot out, and Sports comfortably converted their first two attempts. 

However, Jack Morrow, Jack Worrall and Wallwork then put the visitors back in front after Grant Shenton had brilliantly saved the home side’s third penalty, and a fingertip stop to divert their fourth onto the crossbar gave Afuye the opportunity to seal the victory. He duly took it, and Avro’s first ever appearance in the First Qualifying Round was finally confirmed on another unforgettable evening for the club.