Lincoln United dramatically advanced in the Lincolnshire Senior Trophy with a 95th minute Matt Cotton equaliser, before a penalty shoot-out victory.
The hosts welcomed Barton Town in their eighth home game in just over four weeks, whereas the visitors were playing for the first time since Halloween.
Barton started the better of the two sides and took the lead after just eight minutes. A cross from winger Tom Wandby proved too much for the United defence, particularly Sean Wright, who on the slide, turned the ball into his own net.
Barton forward Sam Cable was first to be cautioned in the game on 15 minutes, for a strong tackle on Ted Gibbons. The United forward was next to test either goal moments later, with his speculative outside the boot effort landing on the roof of the Barton net.
Jack McMenemy put a Matt Cotton cross over the bar, as the hosts looked to pile on the pressure and find an equaliser.
Against the run of play, Barton doubled their lead after 22 minutes, with Cable rising highest to connect with a Tom Davie cross and nod the visitors into a shock two-goal lead.
Chris Funnell’s side had to advance forward looking for a route back into the contest, and had chances through Callum Foster and Jack Butterfill, but visiting goalkeeper Ryan Musslewhite was equal to their efforts.
After half an hour, the game became more stretched with both sides creating chances. Josh Wilson in the Whites’ net made an important stop from a Wandby header, who was completely free at the back post.
Wandby would live to regret that miss as Lincoln pulled one back. Moments later, Sean Wright made amends for his earlier mistake by volleying home a low effort from the edge of the box, after a corner fell nicely for the defender 10 minutes before the break.
The Whites were in the ascendency now and should’ve equalised a minute later when captain Matt Cotton dragged his shot wide of the net, with time and space in the box, after a lovely flick from Butterfill.
Whilst Lincoln had all the momentum, they were lucky not to fall two goals behind again. Wandby was found by a low Cable cross, and the winger got to the ball before Wilson. He lifted the ball over the keeper’s leg, but unfortunately for the visitors, the ball rebounded back off the crossbar.
Somehow the game wasn’t level when Jack Butterfill’s effort was cleared off the line by Barton defender Tom Davie. Appeals for handball and a penalty were heard, but they were quickly waved away by referee Michael Wright.
Winger Tobias Liversidge replaced Ted Gibbons for a second 45 minutes that didn’t mirror the frantic, stretched game that was evident previously. The hosts had most of possession, and were more controlled about how they approached the Barton defence.
A fingertip save from Musslewhite tipped over a Cotton strike forced a corner on the hour mark, which wasn’t dealt with properly by the visiting defence. The ball was cleared off the line for the second time in the game.
With 25 minutes remaining, striker McMenemy hit the woodwork for the home side, as his powerful header, connecting with a Matt Cotton cross looped over Musslewhite and bounced off the crossbar and to safety for Barton.
Whilst United had possession and were getting closer to finding an equaliser, Barton had opportunities to finish the game off themselves. Brooklyn Dennis fired wide at the near post, before having a header from close range held by Wilson.
The Whites kept plugging away and it looked like it wasn’t to be their night, as Cotton’s powerful volley from close range was superbly stopped by an in-form Musslewhite, to keep Barton in front in stoppage time.
But, in the fifth minute of added time, captain Cotton was there to tap home from a corner, after the ball fell to him kindly in the six yard box, to send the tie to a penalty-shootout.
Lincoln United converted their first four spot-kicks, putting pressure onto the visitors to keep up. James Playford hit the bar for Barton, allowing Mitch Griffiths to slot the fifth penalty home, sending the Whites to the semi-final stage of the Lincolnshire FA County Senior Cup