Whitcombe the penalty hero as City progress

Haydn Whitcome was City's hero on Saturday afternoon in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout, after super sub Elliott Hartley headed a 95th minute equaliser to see the blue and whites into the FA Vase First Round Proper.

After a rare midweek break, Cornes freshened-up City's starting eleven further with two changes from the FA Cup defeat to Leek Town. With Connor Gater still absent due to injury, Lorcan Sheehan was bought in to replace Robbie Thompson Brown as City's anchor in midfield, and Izak Reid returned to the side in place of the absent Kyonn Evans.

City thought they'd got off to the perfect start with just a minute on the clock, when a Rugby cleared header fell to the feet of Adam Mace who drove an effort towards goal for Insall to poke in at the back post. But Insall was adjudged to have made his run just a touch too early and was flagged offside.

After good early possession, Lockett and then Reid had chances in quick succession, Lockett cutting in from the left and curling one towards goal but too close to the keeper for an easy save, and Reid heading over from the penalty spot after good work from Belmonte to find him with an inch-perfect cross.

Reid then so nearly turned provider for Jamie Insall. After being released down the right by Belmonte, Reid continued his run into the box and pulled the ball back for Insall and what looked a certain goal, only to see his effort cleared off the line by the Rugby defender.

Probably the best chance of the half fell to Lockett on 30 minutes, when a good ball upfield by Keightley was held-up well by Belmonte as he waited for City presence in attack. His neat ball into Lockett was met with a great first touch into the Rugby penalty area, before striking with his left foot but denied by a great save from Rugby goalkeeper Bull.

City managed to limit Rugby to long-range shots from distance in what seemed a dominant first half from the home side.

The game was turned on it's head, however, early in the second half. Good work by Rugby's Marsden saw him nip in front of Layton to win the ball, and as he made his way in to the box and cut back on to his right foot was judged to have been upended by Layton, an Rugby were awarded a penalty. Sam Lockley stepped up and stroked the ball into the back of the net to put City on the back foot.

City were level though 10 minutes later. A Layton ball forward was collected by substitute Dylan Hart, a replacement just a few minutes earlier for Jamie Insall, and his right-footed cross found Belmonte unmarked in the box to side-foot the ball into the back of the Rugby net.

But just minutes later the visitors were in front again. Winger Halim's ball on the left caught out the City back line and Lockley drifted in behind, and after an excellent first touch to bring the ball into his possession laid on an easy finish for McGahey to tap home.

Both sides continued to press looking for goals and Rugby were unlucky not to seal the win on 86 minutes, a header rattling Whitcombe's crossbar that would have surely put the game out of reach for the hosts.

There was to be more drama though as the game ticked over 90 minutes. After clearing the ball in the box, defender Flaig reportedly lashed out at City striker Hart and the referee awarded the home side a penalty, also sending Flaig for an early shower in the process. That gave Hart himself a golden opportunity to equalise and send the game to penalties, but his effort seemed scuffed and the ball trickled wide of the post.

Further late drama though and this time City would see their efforts rewarded. Skipper Adam Mace's corner in to a good area was met by super sub Elliott Hartley, and his glancing header looped over the Rugby defender on the back post and into the back of the net, with the City Faithful celebrating wildly behind the goal. With almost the last kick and header of the game, it was left to penalties to decide the game.

After Izak Reid and Rugby's Lockley converted the first two penalties, the first error of the shoot-out would fall to City as Liam Lockett saw his effort saved well by Bull. That looked like it could be the deciding mistake in the shoot-out as McGahey, Halim and Marsden converted for Rugby, and in reply Hart, Belmonte and Layton did the same for Worcester. That gave Creany the opportunity to make it five from five for the visitors and send them into the next round, but his driven effort was well saved by Whitcome with his feet, to send it to sudden death.

Next up was Dinsley for City who stroked his penalty to the goalkeeper's right, heaping the pressure on Rugby's next taker, Steele. And that pressure was felt as his penalty was placed too close to Whitcome, who saved the second penalty in a row to send City into the First Round Proper, cue pandemonium behind the goal and brilliant on-field celebrations.

City now await the draw of the First Round on Monday afternoon at 1pm.