AFC Barley Mow celebrated arguably their finest result in Saturday football when pulling off a notable Hunts Intermediate Cup giantkilling.
The Kershaw Senior B Division title-chasers saw off Kershaw Premier Division opponents Brampton in a quarter-final clash settled from the penalty spot.
The two sides shared four goals before the Barley boys eventually prevailed 8-7 in a sudden-death shoot-out to leave player-boss Sean Sweeney delighted.
“It’s certainly up there with the best results we’ve ever had,” said Sweeney. “And the boys were well worth the win.
“We had plenty of chances to win the game in 90 minutes, but we just couldn’t convert them.
“I’m really proud of the lads as they didn’t let their heads drop even when were behind twice. It’s about time we won a penalty shoot-out too!”
AFC Barley Mow suffered a nightmare start as Sam Argyle fired Brampton ahead inside the opening minute, but then soon levelled as James Seymour headed in a Ben Colmer corner.
Colmer then hit a post before the Mow men were stung by a blockbuster from Matt Gearing as Brampton regained the lead early in the second half.
But Josh Turner pounced for a late leveller with both sides then denied what would have been a dramatic winner by the woodwork.
The tie was eventually settled from the spot with Barley keeper Jamie Crook giving his side an instant advantage in the shoot-out by keeping out Brampton’s first attempt.
But Turner then missed with the second effort for Sweeney’s men and the sides remained deadlocked until Crook came up trumps again by keeping out the eighth Brampton penalty.
Craig Beale – a Mow veteran with just one previous goal to his name – then kept his cool to send his side through to the semi-finals.
The higher-level team prevailed in two other last-eight clashes between Kershaw Premier Division and Kershaw Senior B Division sides.
Ryan Vale hit a hat-trick as holders Eaton Socon came from behind to beat St Ives Rangers 3-1 while a Nick Cade treble helped Hemingfords to see off Bluntisham Rangers 4-1.
Matt Wright also found the net for the victors with Max Davies grabbing a consolation for the hosts.
Eynesbury Rovers Reserves complete the semi-final line-up after easing to a 5-0 success at Peterborough side ICA Sports.
Shane Fox and Tommy Stevens put the Rovers second string in control with leading scorer Lee Bassett effectively sealing their passage before half-time.
A classy Dean Parratt strike and a second Bassett goal – to take his seasonal tally to 17 – followed in the second period to keep alive the hat-trick hopes of manager Mark Spavins, who guided former club Eaton Socon to glory in this competition in the past two seasons.
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