Holders Lichfield City made it to the JW Hunt Cup for the second year in a row after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Wolverhampton Casuals.
Ivor Green’s men had come from behind to draw level in the first half.
But it was keeper Paul Hathaway who proved to be the hero with four saves in the shootout – as well as scoring a spot kick himself too.
Casuals started the brighter of the two sides with a shot and a header both going wide.
Demitri Brown had a good chance to put City in front when he rounded the keeper but saw his opportunity snuffed out by a defender.
Casuals went in front on 34 minutes when Benni Wilson found the net from the edge of the box.
Lichfield were level just before the break though when Callum Griffin rifled home from distance.
The holders had a scare early in the second half as Casuals sent a shot over from six yards out.
Hathaway was then forced to make a fine save to keep Lichfield on level terms.
Sub Alex Ryder saw a shot well kept out by Casuals keeper Stan Amos as both sides looked for a winner.
City thought they’d won it late on when Jordan Clement chipped the keeper, but the ball struck the post.
The game went to spot kicks and Lichfield were immediately on the back foot as Jack Edwards, Cameron Dunn and Brown missed their first three penalties.
Casuals had scored their first but then saw Hathaway keep out their next two.
Ryder made it 1-1 to level things up before the City keeper again came to the rescue with another save – and then put Lichfield 2-1 up by scoring a penalty himself.
Casuals scored their fifth spot kick to send it to sudden death.
Clement netted to give City the advantage and Hathaway made a fourth stop to send Lichfield through to the final.
