Pershore Town's hopes of defending their WFA Senior Cup title were ended on Tuesday night after they were dumped out at the quarter-final stage by 10-man Droitwich Spa following a high-quality penalty shootout.
Jordan Adams blasted his spot-kick over the bar after 15 of 17 penalties had been converted as Droitwich won the contest 8-7.
Droitwich were reduced to 10 men just before half-time when Spa midfielder Cory Rudd was shown a straight red card for a lunging attempt at a tackle on the edge of his own box.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Droitwich scored what they thought was the winner when Jack Brighton's free-kick caught out Plums keeper Eddie Cox. But Petar Tonchev tucked away a stoppage time penalty to send the tie to more penalties, which Droitwich eventually won.
Sorry for the lack of updates Tonight. Really busy night
— DROITWICH SPA FC (@DroitSpaFC) January 31, 2023
Spa go through 8-7 on Penalties after a 1-1 draw in 90 Minutes
Jack Brighton scored Spa’s Goal
Another unbelievable and Memorable Night for Droitwich Spa
The game was always likely to be tight, and it proved so in the first-half of normal time.
Pershore dominated the ball and looked the better side, but chances were few and far between.
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The Plums received their boost right on the stroke of half-time, however, as a rash challenge from Rudd left the referee with a relatively easy decision to make and the hosts would have to play the entire second-half a man down.
Pershore regularly beat sides from two/three levels higher in cup competitions in the last 12 months so the emphasis was very much on them to go and win the game whilst being a man up.
But the home side, spurred on by a healthy crowd of around 450, dug in after the break and frustrated the visitors, who were camped in Spa's half for the majority.
Danny Janes' side struggled to make inroads and Dom Rogerson was rarely forced into a meaningful save.
And then with time almost up, it looked as if Droitwich had produced the classic 'smash and grab' when Brighton's speculative free-kick caught Cox off-guard, with the keeper only able to palm the ball into his own net.
*GOAL* | @DroitSpaFC 1 - 0 Pershore Town - It's a goal right at the death for the ten men of Spa! Ball floated from the halfway line and Eddie gets caught under the ball for it to roll in.
— Pershore Town FC (@PTFC88) January 31, 2023
But there was still time for some drama as the referee awarded Pershore a late, late penalty for a high boot in the box.
Tonchev stepped up and coolly slotted home to send the cup tie to a shootout.
It was an extremely high quality contest from the spot, with eight of the first penalties finding the net before Droitwich's Haydn Morris sent his flying over the bar.
But James Baldwin saw his tame effort saved and it went to sudden death, where Adams fired over to spark jubilant scenes for the hosts.
Droitwich will play the winner of Stourport Swifts vs Kidderminster Harriers at home for a chance to make the final.
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