Moors Under-18s claimed a dramatic FA Youth Cup win at Chester-le-Street United on Wednesday evening when they eventually prevailed after a penalty shootout.
Stewart Beattie’s youngsters dominated the opening stages and were in the driving seat when they took a 2-0 lead, but the hosts roared back to lead 3-2 with time running out before Moors grabbed a dramatic leveller before holding their nerve in the spot-kicks.
Moors began the game well and settled the better of the two sides during the encounter, which was played at The Riverside in Chester-le-Street.
They grabbed a deserved lead midway through the first half when Kingston Butler’s goal set them on their way in the Second Round Qualifying tie.
It got even better for Moors on 34 minutes when Kiyan Bayat made it 2-0 only for the home side to capitalise on an error to pull a goal back just before half time.
That proved a critical moment as Moors toiled in the second half, with Eddy Cook struggling with illness and then the loss of Harry Stewart to an ankle injury interrupting their rhythm.
The home side took full advantage to score an equaliser on the hour before then seemingly breaking Moors hearts with a wonderful third goal eight minutes from time to go 3-2 in front.
However, Beattie’s youngster kept on battling and threw everything at their hosts in the dying minutes, getting their reward when substitute Ethan Peveller was able to grab a crucial leveller with time running out.
Moors then showed great composure during the shootout when keeper James Barron made a crucial save and allowed Fin Rose to convert the crucial penalty to win the tie.
The victory means Moors now move into the final round of qualifying in this year’s competition with a place in Round One now very much in their sights.
“I am incredibly proud of the lads after that win,” admitted Beattie.
“It was always going to be tough, and Chester-le-Street certainly didn’t disappoint us on the night, so the lads had to stick together.
“We lost Sam Tate, who scored the winner in the last round, to injury during the warm-up, which was a big blow, but the message was to get on the ball, express yourselves and enjoy it – and they certainly did that.”
Full Time: Chester-le-Street United 3 Moors 3 (Moors win 5-3 on penalties)
Moors: Barron, Toase, Stewart, Chapman, Cook, Beattie, Rose, Atkinson, Butler, Houlahan, Bayat.
Subs: Aspinall, Coulthard, Coxon, Peveller, Tate, Bondarenko, Moran.
Attendance: 192
