Words John Edwards | Pictures John Shirras

Altrincham 3 Newcastle 3 (Alty win 3-2 on pens)

The penalty spot ultimately provided a route through to the semi-finals of the National League Cup for Altrincham, but, for a few minutes at least, it looked like being the villain of the piece after one of the most extraordinary incidents Robins fans can ever have witnessed at The J.Davidson Stadium.

Alty had seen an early 2-0 lead overturned by three Newcastle goals and were striving for an equaliser when a foul on substitute Remi Thompson inside the area threw them a lifeline in the form of a 77th-minute spot-kick.

Joe Nuttall placed the ball carefully and took a few paces back before starting a run-up that suddenly ground to a halt with the keeper committed to a dive and the Alty striker's right foot a matter of millimetres away from making contact with the kick.

It could only be assumed his boot got stuck in the thick mud surrounding the penalty spot, but what should happen next was anyone's guess as Nuttall looked quizzically towards referee William Davis and players of both sides rushed towards the official to state their case.

Eventually, to the dismay of Nuttall and his team-mates, Davis signalled a free-kick to Newcastle from the spot, and Alty looked to be heading out of the competition, with time ticking away.

But Justin Amaluzor headed the Robins back on level terms in the last minute, and, irony of ironies, Phil Parkinson's side prevailed in the subsequent penalty shoot-out!

The muddy conditions may well have contributed to one Alty spot-kick and two by Newcastle being ballooned over the bar, but credit to Kahrel Reddin, Matty Kosylo and Amaluzor for holding their nerve and also to substitute keeper Harvey Randle for denying one of the visitors' kicks with a quite brilliant save.

The tie represented an opportunity for fringe players to stake a claim for a regular starting place, and Reddin made the most of his with a superb goal after five minutes.

Receiving a pass from Kosylo on the left of the area, Reddin cut inside his marker and curled a shot beyond keeper James Taylor for a finish that was very much in the mould of Regan Linney.

The lead was doubled in the 10th minute when a right-wing corner was met by a flashing header from Kian Taylor that flew into the roof of the net, just inside the near post.

Alty were in charge and could have gone further in front in the 17th minute when Lucas Weaver fired a low shot from outside the area that Taylor managed to palm round the post.

It was beginning to look plain sailing for the Robins, but the picture changed in the 19th minute when Garang Kuol thundered an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net, giving debutant keeper Rob Lainton no chance.

Suddenly, it was all-square when Newcastle levelled from the penalty spot in the 29th minute after what was deemed to be a foul by Lainton on Jay Turner-Cooke.

It looked harsh on Lainton, who appeared to get a hand to the ball as Turner-Cooke tried to take it round him, but a penalty was awarded and the Newcastle forward picked himself up to despatch the kick with aplomb.

A chance went begging for Alty in the 35th minute when Weaver dragged a a shot wide from a great position after the ball was cut back to him from the right.

Alty were guilty of over-elaborating as they tried to play their way out on the left in the 57th minute, and they paid the priced as Kuol seized possession and rifled a low drive past half-time substitute Randle.

The Newcastle lead might well have been shortlived but for Lewis Banks blazing over after Jake Cooper met a deep free-kick beyond the far post and knocked it back into his team-mate's path in the 59th minute.

Equally, it could have been extended soon after that as Kuol set up Johnny Emerson for a crisply-struck shot that was brilliantly turned round the post by a razor-sharp save from Randle.

Alty missed out on an equaliser in bizarre circumstances in the 77th minute after Reddin turned brilliantly on the left of the area and set up Thompson, who was upended by a defender for a penalty.

Nuttall stepped up and took a couple of paces towards the ball before inexplicably stopping at the point of impact. A quick look back over his shoulder seemed to suggest his studs had got caught in the cloying mud, and that appeared to be the case he was making to the referee, as he argued for a retake.

The home protests were waved away as the decision went Newcastle's way, but Alty were not to be denied, as Reddin got to the bye-line on the left and crossed for Amaluzor to head home and send the tie into a shoot-out that went the Robins' way by a 3-2 margin.

Altrincham Lainton (Randle, 46'); Cooper (c), Osborne (Griffiths, 14'), Taylor, Kosylo, Weaver (Amaluzor, 46'), Reddin, Golden (Banks, 46'), Nuttall, Bickerstaff (Thompson, 73'), Pasiek. Subs not used: J.Jones, Crawford.

Newcastle Taylor; Shahar, Charlton, Bailey (Finneran, 46'), Heffernan (c), Thompson, Kuol, Stanton, Neave, Turner-Cooke, Emerson (Harrison, 76'). Subs not used: Craggs, Anderson, Brayson, Ferreira, Palmer.

HT 2-2

Penalties Griffiths (Saved) | Harrison (Scored) | Reddin (Scored) | Stanton (Missed) | Cooper (Missed) | Turner-Cooke (Scored) | Kosylo (Scored) | Neave (Saved) | Amaluzor (Scored) | Shahar (Missed)

Goals Reddin 6', Taylor 10', Amaluzor 90' | Kuol 19', 57', Turner-Cooke 29'

Yellows Taylor 51', Nuttall 78' | Finneran 63'

Reds None | None

Referee William Davis

Assistant Drew Dutton & Adewunmi Soneye

Fourth official Jack Nield

Attendance 623

Next Up

We head to Rochdale for an Isuzu FA Trophy quarter-final clash on Saturday (3pm). Full ticket details are right here.

Further ticket and travel details for our four other away games in March, against York City, Southend United, Rochdale (again) and Ebbsfleet United, can be found here.